"That's the problem with putting others first; you've taught them you come second."

Unknown

<>

Panthers know things. They know things no one else knows. This was something that multiple history books agreed on. The panthers were some of the wisest creatures out there, and they knew practically everything that went on in the world, both because they had informants, and because their kind were some of the best infiltrators and spies.

Team 7 needed to keep track of several things, if they were going to be able to diz everything. Sakura decided that it would be best to make a summoning contract with them, because for now, she was on her own. Sasuke and Naruto had a reason to be around each other- they were best friends, and their parents were close. Kakashi was basically the adopted eldest son of Minato Namikaze, and was always around. Sakura was just a random civilian girl who had no reason to be around the son of the Hokage and the boy that was second in line to the most powerful clan in the village. They weren't even going to the academy yet, so Sakura had no reason to even know the boys.

Sakura trusted Kakashi with her life, but the chances were that she wasn't going to be seeing him often since she was so young and Kakashi had his own life. If she was going to stay in the loop, she needed a panther summon.

She also knew that if she was going to get panthers as her summon... well, doing that was dangerous. She needed a strong ninja that wasn't going to question where she was going. The only person she knew of that fit that criteria was Kakashi.

Sakura knew that if anyone saw her, they'd see her as just some five-year-old kid, and probably take her out of Kakashi's neighborhood. Maybe they would try to find her parents. Sakura also knew that Kakashi woke up quickly because his paranoia caused him to sleep lightly. She had diagnosed the PTSD the first time she saw him, and she saw hints of it hidden in Naruto and Sasuke. She was a doctor- she definitely wasn't stupid. Sakura also knew it was in herself because she also didn't sleep very well.

Knowing Kakashi, he probably set traps for people who came through the windows, so she knew the door was the way to go. Sakura prayed that the neighbors didn't notice her, and she rolled out into the open, walking up the sidewalk. She knocked on the door quickly, waiting impatiently for Kakashi to open it. She scanned her surroundings, not seeing any of the neighbors looking at her. Although she supposed that made sense because it was the middle of the night.

"What are you doing here?" Sakura perked up as the door opened, but groaned when she saw Sasuke at the door instead of their jonin sensei who was still an ANBU. "You don't seem very pleased to see me."

"I must admit, I'm really not very pleased to see you," Sakura said, crossing her hands over her chest. "What are you doing here?" She asked, meeting Sasuke's eyes. They were so different than they used to be. He was softer, eyes almost smiling. He was getting better, like she thought he would be. She bit her lip to avoid smiling at this.

"I'm here because my father sent me here," Sasuke told her, gesturing back at Kakashi's house. "I'm only going to be here for tonight, and then I'm going home." That didn't explain what he was doing there, but it did explain how he got there. "Now, what are you doing knocking on Kakashi's door in the middle of the night? You look like you're going somewhere, too. Where is your backpack?"

Sakura frowned, knowing there was no way out of this. She could either play it cool and not let Sasuke know what was going on, and he could find out for himself... or she could just tell him and save both of their times. "Hidden behind the tree in the backyard."

"Okay," Sasuke said slowly, processing what she just told him. "Can you tell me where you're going?" His mind probably automatically went to 'Sakura's leaving the village'.

Sakura sighed, knowing that Sasuke would tell Naruto, and Naruto would worry. She would be scolded fiercely when she returned if Sasuke said anything. "It's not on a mission or anything. And I'm not planning on leaving the village yet." She assured him. Sasuke's brow furrowed at the 'yet'. "I'm just leaving for a few days, and that is just to go get a new summon. I need Kakashi to come with me because the place I'm going to is dangerous, and my body is five years old."

"I see." Sasuke drawled, shoving his hands into his pockets. He was wearing white shorts, similar to the ones that he used to wear. He had a jonin shirt that was about three sizes too big for him on. Sakura assumed that was Itachi's shirt. "If you're going, I'm coming with you."

"... but... you're not ready to go," Sakura said, trying to find reasons to stop him from coming. The two of them were very awkward around each other, both knew the reason for the tenseness, but neither of them was going to act on it.

"I can get ready faster than most people, Sakura," Sasuke said, looking at her. He'd already seen through her and knew she was trying to avoid traveling with him. "And I'm coming. You and Kakashi need backup, you can't just go by yourselves."

Sakura's eyebrows raised. She crossed her arms over her chest. "You're saying you don't think we can do it by ourselves?"

Sasuke sighed, leaning on the doorframe and bringing his hand up to massage his temples. "No, Sakura, that's not it. What I'm saying is, I need a break, and I'm being driven stir crazy cooped up in my house all day. The whole purpose of me coming over to Kakashi's is to loosen up. I've been snapping at everyone." Sakura's skeptic expression never changed. Sasuke sighed again, running his hand down his face. "Let me rephrase. Can I please come with you?"

Sakura didn't know any other reason to say no. None that were good, anyway. "I..." She stared off into the side of Kakashi's house for a second. "You can't-"

"What're you two doing out here?" Kakashi asked, walking up behind Sasuke. He was rubbing the back of his neck. He looked confused to see Sakura standing at the door. "Sakura?"

"Kakashi-sensei, sorry I didn't give you a warning that I was coming." Sakura looked at him, noting that Sasuke's eyes didn't avert from hers for even a moment. It appeared that he was serious with his wish to travel with them. "I need your help. Do you think you can help me go to Tsukinoyo?"

Kakashi was now paying attention. "You want to go there? Why?" He asked, suddenly sounding rushed.

Sakura sighed loudly, stomping her tiny feet in impatience. "Because, Kakashi-sensei, I have some business there that I need help with, and if you're coming with me, we don't have a lot of time. I can sustain a clone for a few days, but I have to leave now if I'm going to get to Kumo in time."

"In time?" Sasuke asked, brows furrowing. No one had mentioned a timed escapade.

Sakura barely looked at him. "I'll explain on the way."

Sasuke's lips quirked into a small smile, and he looked away so no one would see. Kakashi nodded and disappeared in his house. Sasuke did the same, and Sakura was left standing at the doorway, tapping her feet impatiently. She kept her chakra masked because if Naruto sensed that all three of them were gathering, he would think it's an emergency.

Sakura winced. She wished she could bring Naruto, now. Since all of them were going, she might as well invite him too. She knew for a fact that before Naruto went to bed, he performed Senjutsu to make sure there weren't any known Akatsuki members in the village. Sakura looked towards his house and flared her chakra. Naruto would sense her chakra right away. If he didn't join them, she was leaving, and he had lost his chance. Sakura was losing time with every minute they wasted, and she only had a two-day window that was starting tomorrow at sunset, and by now it was the middle of the night. Getting to Kumo took around three days of constant running at high speeds, so she had to leave right now if she was going to make it in time.

Sasuke and Kakashi both appeared at the door at the same time, each carrying backpacks and in their training outfits. Well, Sasuke in a sort of training outfit. They both had ninja tool belts strapped to their thighs and handed one to Sakura as well. She did the same and nodded at them. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah," Sasuke said as Kakashi closed and locked the door behind them. Kakashi made the tiger symbol with his long fingers, and suddenly random spots of grass started glowing. When he brought his hand down, he looked at his students, who were both watching him confusedly. "Had to set up more traps." He said.

Sakura rolled her eyes and turned to start walking. "If you're coming, let's go. If Naruto wants to come, he'll meet us at the gate, but we're wasting time. Sasuke shouldn't even be here, I didn't take him into my calculations."

Sasuke sighed loudly, faking an emotional injury. "I just want to help you with a mission and honestly I'm feeling so unwanted right now."

"This isn't a mission, this is me going to get a summoning contract. And you are unwanted, I came here for Kakashi, not you." Sakura knew her voice was cold, but she couldn't bring herself to change it.

"Geez, I don't know what to say, Sakura, Sasuke," Kakashi said, looking between the two of them. "It's clear you both have a lot of pent-up emotion."

They both turned around and hissed. "Shut up, Kakashi."

When the group reached the gate, they saw Naruto there, rubbing his eyes. He was still in his pajamas and looked around at each of them incredulously. "Where are you guys going so late at night?"

"It's not a mission," Kakashi spoke quickly, coming to a stop in front of the youngest student.

"Well no duh, my dad doesn't assign missions to a bunch of five-year-olds." Naruto deadpanned, crossing his arms. He got a pout on his face. "Do I have to come?"

"No," Sakura replied. "We'll only be gone for a few days, and I already left a clone to fool my parents. Think you can keep the clones up for us if they, you know, go poof?"

"You guys better not die without me," Naruto warned. It was definitely a threat, he would kill them if they died.

"Someone should probably stay and protect the village while we're gone, I guess." Sasuke reasoned. "Leaving the village alone while there are still dirty snakes out there probably isn't a good idea."

Naruto brightened up, giving the three of them two thumbs up. "Yeah! I'll henge a few of my clones just in case yours don't hold up. Cool! Go do your not-mission, and I'll take care of the village for ya, 'ttebayo!" His eyes were suddenly very droopy, and the boy yawned, looking exhausted. "It's too late... at night... for this... anyway..."

The three of them exchanged glances. Their bodies were still toddlers, of course. Sakura was lucky she'd practically slept all day. Sasuke had done something similar, because his father tended to tire him out. Besides, just being Naruto must take a lot out of the poor kid, with all the energy he was constantly using. Kakashi made a shadow clone pick up Naruto and carry him home, and then the three of them were off.

There wasn't really much to say about the journey, the three of them were awkward and silent. Even Sakura, the social butterfly of the group, couldn't find anything to say. The few times Kakashi tried to start up a conversation, it didn't go well either. If Sasuke said anything to Sakura, she shut him down with blunt, short answers.

The only notable thing about the travel was one time.

"Sakura, why are you avoiding me?" Sasuke asked. He was leaning against a tree, and Sakura was seated next to the fire they made. Kakashi was out getting wood for the fire since Sakura had gone last time, and Sasuke had gone the time before. "Don't deny it, either, I see you doing it. I'm not an idiot."

"I'm not an idiot either. Don't try to convince me you care what I think, I know you only put up with me for the sake of the team." Sakura poked at the fire with a stick, the orange flickers reflecting in her green eyes. Sakura frowned at the dying fire. Sasuke stared at them but shook his head to avoid being stuck watching the endless pools that were Sakura's eyes.

"That's not true, Sakura." Sasuke said quietly. The two of them had a very bad history with each other, but by now surely they had to forget it and move on. "I know that I did terrible things to you, and everyone else. I am sorry for them, and you don't have to forgive me. I just want to know if there is some way to make it up to you. I don't want things to be awkward between us forever." He gestured between himself and Sakura. "Like it or not, it's just us, Kakashi and Naruto. We have to get along."

"Well, Sasuke, you almost killed me. You left me. You nearly killed Naruto, and plenty of my friends. You betrayed the village. You did kill many innocent people." Sakura sighed, throwing her stick into the nearly nonexistent fire and looking up at Sasuke. The fire was almost gone, but there was still some flickering in her eyes. "I don't know how you're going to make all that up for me. It's kinda hard to make up emotional trauma."

Sasuke knew this from experience, and he nodded, conceding to her point. "I still want to try, Sakura," He said, pressing his lips together in a thin line after he said her name.

"Well, good luck, Sasuke." Sakura said softly. Sasuke sighed in relief in his head. That wasn't an outright let down, but he was disappointed that he didn't get to have a real conversation with Sakura.

The two of them sat in silence until Kakashi returned with the firewood he left for. "You guys get a few hours of sleep, I'll keep a look out, then we'll get going." He said briskly, getting on his knees to start the fire. Sasuke watched as he piled the wood into the correct way, then backed away to do a fireball, but it was too late. Sasuke had beat him to it, there was already a small fire going. Sasuke's hand stopped growing red, and he backed away from it.

"Houka Hira no jutsu." Sasuke shrugged as Kakashi looked at him weirdly. The older boy nodded a little bit, turning back to the fire.

"Flaming palm jutsu. You have to teach me that one later." Kakashi said, sitting back.

"Later." Sasuke agreed.

<>

Itachi Uchiha was no idiot. He knew something was up with Sasuke immediately- or, what he thought was Sasuke for three minutes, then realized was a shadow clone jutsu. He gestured for the clone to follow him into his room, and shut the door.

"Alright, Sasuke. Where is the real you, and how do you know the shadow clone jutsu?" Itachi asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at the copy of his younger brother.

The Sasuke clone panicked immediately. He should've known that nothing gets by Itachi. "Look, nii-san, just trust me on this. I'm fine, the original is with his friends. He'll be with them for a few days."

Itachi raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying the story. "Sasuke has friends aside from Naruto?"

"Lots, actually." That was a new voice. Itachi spun around, and saw Naruto sliding open his window. The blonde grinned sheepishly, and waved. "Hiya, Itachi-nii. Can I come in?"

The older boy rolled his eyes and nodded. Naruto jumped inside landing on the floor, nimble as a cat. One has to be fast and have quick reflexes to live with Uzumaki Kushina, unless that person wants a concussion when they piss her off.

"Sorry, I would've come earlier to explain, but Kaa-chan forced me to do the dishes." He stuck out his tongue and fake gagged. "Itachi-nii-chan's not gonna snitch if I tell you, right?"

Itachi frowned. If there was something to snitch about, things must be bad. "No, I won't tell on you." He instantly regretted saying that afterwards.

"Itachi-nii-chan's so cool!" Naruto exclaimed, which made Itachi crack a little smile. "Anyway, yeah, this is that bastard's shadow clone. He's gone with Kakashi-nii and Sakura-chan, and he told me he'd be back in a couple days."

Itachi's right eye twitched. "And might I ask where - exactly - he went?" He put his hands on his hips and leaned forward, glaring at the five year old cowering in front of him.

"Outta the village on account of Sakura-chan's gotta get a new summon." Naruto explained, sitting himself on Itachi's futon. "Ooh. This is comfy. I could fall asleep in it-"

"My brother is out of the village," Itachi's eyes narrowed more. "With Kakashi-senpai?"

"Don't forget Sakura-chan." Naruto added, laying back on Itachi's futon and staring at the ceiling. "Sakura-chan's there too."

Itachi sighed loudly, putting a hand over his eyes. "Who is 'Sakura-chan', Naruto?"

"My bestest friend." Naruto beamed, just the thought of Sakura making him happy. Then his grin turned devilish. "She's also Sasuke's girlfriend." He said nonchalantly.

Itachi looked like his head was going to explode. "Aside from the completely absurd fact that Kakashi abducted my brother, Sasuke got a girlfriend, and he didn't bring her over here to meet us?"

"I dunno, Itachi-nii-chan, but I think you should yell at him about it anyway." Naruto grinned, rubbing his hands together. He was going to get stabbed for telling Itachi that, but the look on Sasuke's face when he returned would be worth it. "But remember, Itachi-nii-chan, you didn't hear this from me."

Itachi sat on the floor where he had been standing, muttering curses under his breath. "That little shit. Kakashi and Shisui are both such a bad influence. To think he left with a girl without telling me..." He was mostly joking, but Naruto clearly wasn't going to give him any real answers, so there was no use in the blonde being here. Besides, if the girl they were talking about was the same age as them, why would a five year old need to leave the village to find a summon?

Naruto stood up, yawning, sensing that the conflict had mostly been resolved. "Anyway. It's been a long day, Itachi-nii. Don't worry about Sasuke, he'll be back soon. Remember not to mention any of this to Aunt Mikoto or Uncle Fugaku, 'k? And I'm sure you'll meet Sakura-chan soon, yeah?" He walked over to the window, and saluted him. Itachi didn't pay the blonde any attention, still brooding, but Naruto knew that the older boy heard everything he was saying. "See ya, Itachi-nii-chan!"

Itachi didn't feel any better about this, but he guessed he could keep up the ruse for Mikoto. Their father was hardly around enough to even notice his son's disappearance, frankly. Itachi put a henge around the clone to make its chakra seem similar to Sasuke's, so no one would suspect anything, and sent it to bed. He told it to report back to Sasuke that the younger boy "owed him one for Itachi covering for his sorry ass". Then he threatened destruction on Sasuke for not telling Itachi that he was leaving.