Shikamaru wanted to just take a nap where he lay. Instead, he found himself talking to Sakura, who had just returned from a C-ranked-turned-A.

He was genuinely interested, but too lazy to really show it, so he allowed her to speak. She explained how she had lost a piece of her ear, and how she now wore her headband on her arm like him to keep it out of the way. Sakura spoke more than he had ever heard or seen her do, and it was an unusual moment.

Her colourful story was told with a bleak, boring tone that almost sounded like a school lecture, but when she got to the part when she had thought Sasuke and Naruto had died, he glanced over at her.

"I wept," she explained. "I have only done so once."

Only Shikamaru and a few others would realize just how much her teammates meant to her, even if she didn't entirely trust them or if she didn't outwardly show it. Sasuke and Naruto were incredibly protective of her, going behind her back to ward off any boys that tried to acquaint themselves with her.

The lazy genin nodded in understanding as she described the feeling that he himself had not felt yet—hatred. Of course, she didn't understand what it felt like, not truly.

"I killed him," she said, and then fell into silence. Then, they both lied there for the rest of the afternoon, until it began to get dark.

:::

Sakura noticed that the rivalry between Sasuke and Naruto was growing worse and worse. Just about everything turned into a competition. For the first time since her mission with Tazuna, Hashirama talked to her as the boys argued on who picked more weeds.

Not that I care.

You are such a tsundere, oh my Kami.

'Tsundere'?

...Never mind.

"I definitely got more, —ttebayo!"

"Tch, you wish."

"Teme!"

"Dobe."

"Perhaps if we were assigned a more challenging mission, Sasuke and Ramen-boy would not fight as much," Sakura suggested to Kakashi, who was actually fed up with the squabbles. When they were distracted, that meant he had to stay in the hot sun. Yuck.

However, as usual, Kakashi ignored her and only turned the page to his book. "Actually, that sounds pretty good, —ttebayo! Please, Kakashi-sensei?"

The jōnin sighed. "I'll see what I can do." Less chūnin and jōnin are being sent out—the Chūnin Exams should be taking place soon, less than a month. That means there will be more missions to take on, Kakashi sighed again, and closed his book.

:::

"You're back for a C-ranked mission already? It's been a week," the Hokage stated, breathing in the smoke from his pipe.

"Yes, but my team has been very eager," Kakashi explained.

"B-but, Hokage-sama," Iruka protested, "Their last C-ranked mission turned into an A-rank!"

"Then I'll just have to give them a simple one," Hiruzen replied, opening a wide folder and pulling out a small file.

"Another escort?" Kakashi asked over the excited yells of Naruto.

"Yes. You will meet her at the entrance in an hour. You may go."

Ask the Hokage about your DNA!

"Sakura-chan?" The blonde tilted his head at her. "Let's go!"

"Aa." She nodded and turned to the door, following Naruto and Sasuke out.

"Who do you think it'll be? A bridge builder? A princess?"

"Hn," Both Sasuke and Sakura replied before sharing a look and then leaving to prepare for the mission.

:::

"Welcome back! I haven't seen you in a while," the middle-aged woman that ran the clothing store greeted her.

Sakura nodded back. "I require something that covers my neck and my thighs. It must not get in the way of when I fight," she ordered, and the woman laughed.

"I have just the thing for you. It's imported—from Kirigakure. Here, I'll show it to you. Let me go get it." She hurried away to fetch the outfit, and Sakura looked around in interest at the arm guards they offered.

She turned back to the woman that brought in an outfit that screamed 'Kirigakure'. Its sleeves were wide, good for hiding weapons. The neck would definitely be hidden by the tight turtleneck underneath the kimono-type shirt, and it definitely covered her thighs with the black spandex. All in all, it was a good outfit.

"Here, try it on," the saleswoman guided her back to the changing rooms and made her walk out when she was done. "That looks fabulous on you! Shall I wrap it up when you change out of it?"

Sakura shook her head. "I will wear it now. I am going on a mission outside the village for a few days. Do you have another set of this?"

The woman smiled and nodded, her crow's feet settling into the corners of her eyes. "Yes. I will make more that will be ready for you when you return."

The pinkette nodded and went up to the front to pay, and tied her black hitai-ate on like a headband the girls in the Academy would do to push their bangs out of the way. Sakura bowed slightly and stiffly, then took the other set of clothing into her hands, and left to go to her apartment. The trip had taken longer than usual. She still had to restock on kunai and explosive tags.

"Hey, Sakura," the owner of the store nodded at her before going back to polishing a katana.

Silently, she went to the back and retrieved twenty more kunai and another pack of explosive tags. As soon as she payed, she stepped out, she was bombarded with green. "Sakura-san! Your new outfit is sublime! You are practically radiating youth!"

"Lee," she greeted, walking alongside him as they crossed the street.

"I have not seen you in a while! I heard you returned from a very hard mission a week ago, no? They are saying how well you did! Gai-sensei and I are proud of your youthfulness; TenTen and Neji as well!"

Sakura only grunted.

"Well, I must go now. I will see you on another youthful occasion!" The energetic genin left her as she hurried to her apartment. Quickly, she folded the extra set of clothing and a sleepwear, then stuffed them into her backpack. I have around five minutes left.

Deciding she could afford it, Sakura hit the dango shop on the way to the entrance of the village. When she saw the small building Izumo and Kotetsu were usually in, a spot of darkness caught her attention.

"Sakura," the Uchiha greeted.

"Sasuke," she replied, then looked off to see where their charge would be.

Who is their charge?

What will happen on the trip?