Chapter Six

"The land of Rivers?" I asked, turning to look at Kakashi who was rolling up his sleeping bag. We had been traveling for three boring uninteresting days. We haven't even been ambushed once to shake things up, Kakashi glanced my way.

"Yes." He answered. "That is our mission, to escort one of their princesses to a peace treaty signing. Every year the two villages come together to renew the treaty." I nodded, already knowing this information but I decided to not say anything.

The land of rivers was a very rich and prosperous land. They were one of the very few villages to except cars into their everyday lives. Looking around at the speeding vehicles and buzzing lights got overwhelming quickly if you were not use to it.

We were on a train heading towards castle where the royal family lived. The ride and walk were quite as team seven took in the large busy village. We were pushed through the castle and put in a large throne room.

"Welcome Leaf Village shinobi!" A man greeted, he had thick blond hair and rich green eyes. He was the king of the Land of Rivers, "Sakura?" His voice was deep and full of confidence. Team seven turned their heads and looked at me questionably.

"Hey William." I waved, walking past team seven. Naruto's mouth was hanging wide open. King William stood from his throne and met me halfway, he wrapped his strong arms around me pulling me into a tight hug.

"It is so good to see you!" He smiled, pulling away.

"It's good to see you too." I nodded,

"I wasn't aware you would be coming here, is everything ok with the-"

"The Waterfall Village is fine." I reassured him. "I am here assisting the Leaf Village."

"Oh?" William looked past me and to the three men behind me. He looked to me cautiously. "Blink three times if you're in danger." He whispered causing me to laugh.

"Everything is alright William."

"Hm." King William did not look convinced. I was close with him and his wife, the waterfall village was very close to the river village. "Well then...does that mean you are going to be escorting with Team Seven?"

"Yes." I nodded.

"Well fantastic!" William clapped his hands.

"Who are we escorting?" I wondered, team seven didn't even know which princess would be coming this year to the treaty signing. The king and queen had a total of four children, two boys and two girls. They also had their niece who lived with them, William gave me a nervous smile. I looked at him for a long second.

"Oh no." I said shaking my head. "I'm out. Team Seven will continue this mission on their own-"

"She must!" William caught my hand before walking to far away.

"She must not!" I argued. Team seven stood behind me, their mouths hanging open not knowing what to do.

"Cedany has to start the progress of being a princess."

"Cedany is not-" I was about to counter,

"Sakura!?" I heard the queens voice, I looked over to my right to see her running towards William and myself.

"I have missed you so much!" She said hugging me tightly.

"Nice to see you to Arabella." I choked out as she crushed my rib cage and my injured side. Queen Arabella giggled as she pulled away blushing. "I am sorry, it's just been so long since you have been here!"

"Yeah, I know...I am sorry."

"Don't be!" She laughed, "I understand your busy." Queen Arabella was a sweet woman as she was beautiful. "Come, you must be tired from traveling-" I walked in between Arabella and William, we were walking to their royal gardens to lunch. I glanced behind me, team seven followed us and they all looked extremely confused.

We all sat around a large table with different food littering it. Arabella sat beside me; she couldn't stop smiling as she talked about everything she has been doing in the past year.

"Please-" Arabella said towards team seven who looked out of place and stiff. "-help yourselves."

"Thank you..." Naruto said looking towards Kakashi for advice on what to do. Kakashi nodded, it was rude to turn down food from a queen.

"So, Sakura!" Arabella leaned on her hand looking at me, "What have you been doing all this time!?"

"Uh..." I loved Arabella as a mother, I sheltered her from a lot of what I did. "Just...keeping the Waterfall Village out of trouble."

"I hear good things." Arabella said sipping her cup. "You are doing a very good job."

"Thanks." I smiled at her, she turned to team seven.

"So, when did you begin working with the Leaf Village again?" She wondered,

"Not that long." I answered, leaning back in my seat. My side was burning,

"I see." Arabella wasn't paying attention to me; she was scoping out team seven. I never hid the fact I didn't like the leaf village and Arabella and William knew the truth about what they had done to me. "Well, it is going to be dark soon. You all should rest here for the night and get a fresh start in the morning!"

"Arabella..." I started but she cut me off with a bright smile.

"I know, I know!" She laughed holding her hands up, "I know how you don't like wasting time but Cedany is not even ready to go yet, we are having some...issues with her. Can you please just spend the night? Please, for me?" I sighed; how could I say no to that?

"We would love to..." Knowing Arabella I would not win this fight.

"Wonderful! How about you all go rest up?" Arabella asked team seven.

"Thank you." Kakashi bowed.

"Donte will you please escort the leaf shinobi to their room, please?"

"Of course, your majesty." A butler bowed, "Right this way-" Donte motioned, Kakashi looked back, seeing I was not following them. I remained in my seat as Arabella continued to talk, telling me her stories.

----

Arabella, William and I sat at the large dinner table in the castle's dining room.

"Thank you, Arabella." I said again, she had supplied me the things I did not have since I was ripped out of the leaf village and was not expecting to be sent on a mission.

"You do not need to thank me!" Arabella said again laughing. "It was the least I could do."

"It-" I stopped talking as the large doors opened, team seven was pushed through by a servant who closed the doors almost taking Naruto's foot clean off.

"Team Seven!" William stood, "Please, join us." I watched Naruto and Sasuke move to sit across from me, Kakashi took a seat beside me.

"Thank you for inviting us." Kakashi said looking at William.

"It is my pleasure; Sakura has been telling us all about you three."

"She has?" Naruto nervously laughed, looking from me and then to the king.

"All good things." William grinned, he loved to make people nervous. "I have to be honest; I feel extremely relieved to know you are the team escorting Cedany."

I rolled my eyes at her name, Cedany was a royal pain in the ass. Cedany was William's niece, and she lives here with them. Her parents were killed when the river village was attacked by a nearby town that is, thanks to me no longer standing.

Cedany was arrogant and entitled, we do not get along.

Dinner was brought out on silver platters. Stake, mash potatoes, green beans and a bread roll was for dinner. There was low conversation, such as William questioning team seven on trivial things. Why did they want to become a shinobi? How long have they been training? This conversation was making my brain numb.

"Sakura, where are the others at?" Arabella asked me, taking a bite of her stake.

"Huh?" I asked since I had been spacing out.

"Where are Piper and the others?" Arabella repeated herself, my heart squeezed.

"I..." I trailed off, "...I thought Carver was here not long ago?" Carver, he was one of the members of my former black ops team from the waterfall village.

"Oh, he was!" Arabella smiled, "It was so nice having him here!"

"I see..." That fucking wuss.

"Sakura?" William made me look up with a sigh on my lips.

"I'm sorry Arabella, but Piper and the others...they died." I drew the words out, trying to be considerate of Arabella feelings.

"Oh." Arabella looked to her plate. "When did this happen?"

"A while ago...I assumed Carver told you."

"He did not." Arabella's voice broke. She stood to her feet as she refused to look at me. "Please, excuse me."

"Arabella!" I called,

"It's ok Sakura." William stood. "I will go talk to her."

"I should-"

"Please." William said, I nodded understanding. William turned and ran after Arabella. Team Seven looked around not knowing what to say.

"Are you ok?" Kakashi asked me, placing his hand over mine.

"Yeah." I answered but didn't look at him.

"Are you ready to go to your room Miss Haruno?" A servant asked, her hands placed in front of her waiting for an answer.

"Yes." I rose to my feet, I nodded to team seven who quickly got up as well. We were led through four hallways and around one corner before the servant stopped and opened a door for us. She bowed,

"If you need anything please let me know."

"Thank you." I excused her and walked through the room. Team seven's bags and mine were there waiting for us.

The bedroom was beautiful, it looked over the gardens. The room had two large beds, tile floor and large glass windows. I reached down, trying to mind my sore side and picked up my bag. Without any words I walked into the bathroom which was attached to the bedroom.

I took a hot shower, I allowed the water to flow down my tired body for a long time, when I stepped out the bathroom was fogged up. I placed shorts and a tank top on the Arabella have lent me. On the bed closest to the door I saw Sasuke was asleep. Naruto was sitting beside Sasuke watching the TV the hung on the wall. Kakashi sat on the remaining bed, reading his little book ignoring everything else.

After an hour it was midnight, I laid on the bed I shared with Kakashi watching what Naruto had put on. Even though I had a long day of walking, full stomach and clean clothes I could not sleep.

I felt terrible for something I had no control over, I hated this feeling of guilt which unsettled my stomach. There was a knock on the door, Kakashi lifted his head and gazed towards the door. He closed his book and got up to answer it.

"Please excuse me." A different servant than from earlier bowed her head. "But Miss Haruno has been requested." I sat up, leaning on my elbow.

"Requested?" I asked.

"By Queen Arabella." The servant explained further. I pulled the blankets off my legs and walked to the door.

"Sakura?" Kakashi called my name, I turned my head.

"I'll be fine." I told him, following the servant down the hall and around the corner. Sitting on the patio in the royal gardens was William and Arabella, they both gazed out into the beautiful night.

"Everything ok?" I asked joining them, Arabella turned to face me. Arabella's eyes were red and a little puffy.

"Yes." She smiled, standing up and walking over to hug me.

"Then why are you up so late?" I lightly laughed.

"I could not sleep." Arabella explained, taking my hand and leading me to the bench her and William were sitting on. "I am so sorry for how I behaved at dinner."

"What?" I chuckled. "That was nothing."

"I should not have walked away like I did."

"Arabella-"

"No Sakura, I was wrong to do so. I am sorry."

"I forgive you?"

"Thank you." Arabella grinned. "William and I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Ok?"

"Who is left?" Arabella asked.

"Arabella...."

"Please."

"Carver, Raiden and I." I answered, telling her the three-remaining people of our nine manned team.

"I am so sorry." Arabella breathed, tears forming in her eyes.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." I told her, "We all know the risks that comes with our job."

"And that is what I want to talk to you about." Arabella sniffed.

"Huh?"

"William and I would like you to stay here."

"Has there been any more threats-?"

"No!" Arabella laughed. "Under your protection we have been very safe."

"What Arabella is trying to say Sakura, is we want you to leave the Waterfall Village and live here with us."

"Wh-What?" I laughed.

"Yes." William nodded. "We would put you in charge of our army and-"

"I can't accept this..."

"We love you Sakura..." Arabella started, "We look at you as our own daughter, and knowing that you are out there in all that danger kills us."

"Arabella...thank you, really I am truly honored, but I can't accept."

"You don't love us-"

"Of course, I do, you two are the few people I can stand." I joked, causing them to laugh. "But I am out there in that danger in order to keep you safe." I explained,

"We knew it was a long shot, but we just had to try...again." William smiled.

"You know there is always a home here for you." Arabella said for the hundredth time, "No questions asked, you can come here anytime."

"I know...thank you both." I hugged them.

"We then." Arabella wiped her eyes. "You better get some rest."

"Oh, I am going to need a week's worth of rest since I am escorting Cedany." After that I parted way with the king and queen of the river village. I made my way back to the room I was staying in with team seven. Kakashi was still awake, watching TV with his arm behind his head for support.

"Everything ok?" Kakashi asked seeing me closing the door. I nodded climbing into bed and covering myself up. Kakashi fell silent which gave me the chance to fall asleep.

Relaxed, it was the first feeling I recognized as I surfaced awake. I couldn't look around the room since it was so dark. The TV was off, and the curtains were closed. I moved my head and placed it back down on my pillow, after a couple moments I opened my eyes again, my pillow had a heartbeat.

My head was on Kakashi's chest, our legs were entangled, and his hand was placed over mine. Kakashi felt warm as I felt his chest slowly rise, the sound of his heartbeat began to lull me back to sleep. I woke up hours later feeling my body was on its side, the blanket was draped over my shoulders as I faced away from everyone inside the room.

"Should we wake her?" I could hear Sasuke talking.

"I am not going to be the one to do it, she might break my arm." Naruto answered Sasuke, I felt myself groan...fucking team seven...I sat up, the blanket falling off my torso. "G-Good morning Sakura!" Naruto laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. I groaned, feeling my side ache as I looked up, I locked eyes with Kakashi who came out of the bathroom looking refreshed with his damp hair.

"Good morning Sakura." Kakashi waved, setting his bag down in front of the bed. I wondered if waking up laying with Kakashi was just a dream.

"Morning." I said getting up.

"How did you sleep?" Naruto asked after I came out of the bathroom, I got gotten dressed and ready to kick start this mission back on track.

"Fine." I answered, picking up my bag and glanced at the clock. "We should get a move on." I said walking past them. Arabella and William fed us breakfast as a few servants were scrambling trying to get Cedany out of bed and ready for the road.

"Are you sure we have to take her?" I muttered already feeling annoyed.

"Yes." William chuckled, we all stood at the front door waiting.

"Are you sure?" I asked again, causing William to laugh. I looked behind me, hearing her before I could see her. Cedany was yelling, unhappy to be awake and expected to be the one to sign the treaty. I smirked seeing team seven's first reactions of princess Cedany.

At first glance, Cedany was a pretty girl. She held long blonde hair and pale blue eyes, but then she opened her mouth and all that goes down the drain.

"Sakura-" William smiled, "-how about you take one of the royal cars?"

"Alright." I knew he was only suggesting this because Cedany would never get in a train, she believed they were for the 'lower class'. Cedany continued to fight with the king and queen as I watched servants load five bags in the back of a large black van.

"You can try taking the car as far as you can. The roads outside our territory have not been converted for cars, so it may be bumpy." William explained to me. I nodded,

"We will go as far as we can, I am sure that will make Cedany happy."

"So, who is going to drive?" Naruto wondered watching all the servants quickly walk away. The castle must be ecstatic to get some time away from Cedany.

"I am." I answered, holding the keys in my hand.

"You can drive?!" Naruto buzzed around me asking hundreds of questions.

"Yes." Was all I said getting in the driver's side after hugging and saying goodbye to William and Arabella, I waited for the others to climb in.

"When did you learn to drive?" Naruto asked getting in the backseat, Cedany was in between Sasuke and Naruto.

"I don't know." I muttered, I looked in the rearview mirror. Cedany glared at me causing me to smirk, she really did not like me. I loved it. I put the car in drive and sped off!

"You are going pretty fast." Sasuke muttered after ten minutes of driving. I may have a touch of road rage.

"Sakura?" I looked in the rearview mirror at Naruto's face.

"What?"

"You are being quiet." He said looking at me worried.

"I am driving."

"So?"

"You have to focus when you are driving." I explained. The sky began to twist into a dark blue color. Cedany was complaining again that she had to pee and was hungry. All the food the king and queen supplied us with was light enough to carry so eating it up now was not something I wanted to do. We were not in River territory anymore, so the roads were beginning to get bumpy.

I personally did not like driving around if we were outside the river village. I felt to exposed, but I knew where we were, and I knew that there was a small village near us. I glanced back and muffled my laugh. Cedany was driving Naruto insane, he looked like he was about to explode.

"We are almost there." I called to her, hoping that would shut her up.

"Where?" Kakashi asked, looking up from his book.

"There is a town nearby we can stop and eat at." I glanced back at Cedany, who was on her phone. "It will shut her up." I saw Kakashi smile through his mask.

I felt my stomach flip at that thought I put that smile on his lips. I turned back to the road, what the hell was that? I shook my head, pushing the feeling in the back of my head. Soon enough, I pulled us into town and stopped at a small diner that looked somewhat clean enough to eat at.

"Ew." Cedany said looking around, her face scrunched up. "Where are we?"

"You wanted food, here you go." Sasuke said as we moved to the building.

"Hello!" A host with short hair which was braided smiled as we walked in. "Y'all can grab a seat wherever you like!" The girl smiled as she began gathering menus.

I nodded and headed towards the back of the diner. I sat in a large booth, I watched as Kakashi slid in beside me. Naruto sat on the other side; I was happy I didn't have to be closer to Cedany than I had to be. I leaned against the booth and waited for the server. Cedany was flirting with Sasuke who looked bored when we were interrupted by a girl, a little younger than me. She wore a blue shirt with the diners' name written on it.

"Hello, my name is Avon. I will be your waitress tonight." She smiled, she looked up and her face turn bright red. "How-How many I-I help you?" She said glancing at Naruto to Kakashi to Sasuke.

"I will take a coke please." Naruto said looking at the girl from his menu.

"Sprite." Sasuke said flatly, looking annoyed by how Cedany was to him.

"Coffee please." Kakashi answered. Avon nodded and started to walk away. I crossed my arms over my chest and watched the show, Cedany did not take being overlooked lightly.

"Hey!" She yelled at the server. Avon turned around with goofy smile on her face, until she saw there were two women glaring at her. I didn't care enough to wipe off the annoyed expression on my face. She came back, her face redder than before.

"I-I am so sorry!" She stuttered. "I do not know what came over me." Avon breathed explaining how it had been a busy day and she was tired. I couldn't care any less about something than I did right now.

"I will take a sweet tea." I called out, cutting Avon off.

"Diet coke." Cedany spat, tossing her menu down and crossing her arms over chest and looking away, Avon nodded and ran away.

"Horrible service." Cedany muttered looking at her phone, I was looking at mine texting Dawn.

"Sakura?" I looked up,

"Huh?"

"I asked why you are glaring at your phone?" Naruto repeated.

"It is nothing." I answered, thankfully Avon came with our drinks on a tray.

"Thanks." I muttered taking my sweet tea from her.

"Are you ready to order?" She asked, pulling out a small paper pad and pen.

"Um, yeah?" Naruto asked looking around, everyone nodded. "Ok, I will have a patty melt, the three-alarm burger with extra cheese, the chicken and fried steak with mash potatoes with beef gravy, a side of coleslaw and an order of onion rings as an appetizer. Please...with a side of ranch, please." Naruto said looking up and smiling up at Avon, whose mouth was hanging open. Even I was surprised by how much Naruto ordered.

"I will have ribeye steak with a baked potato and a side salad with French." Kakashi said handing her his menu.

"Chicken swiss burger with fries." Sasuke stated and handed her his menu.

"Salad. No dressing." Cedany said sliding her menu away from her.

"Just the cheeseburger and fries." I said handing her my menu. She nodded and said it would be right out which I scoffed out. Naruto's order alone will take an hour, Naruto's beloved onion rings appeared. Naruto offered some around to us, but no one took any. He then shoved as many as he could in his mouth at once. I watched him for a moment, I felt the small smile on my face seeing how in heaven he appeared right now.

After about a half hour the food finally made its way out. Four female servers came out holding trays, all giggling. They had their eyes glued to the men at the table. I took my plate when it was handed to me. It took a while for the servers to hand out the food, they were moving slow, giggling and flirting with the guys.

"This is disgusting." Cedany muttered pushing her plate away.

"It is lettuce." I said. "How can it be gross?"

"It just is." She said, "I am not eating it, this place is terrible."

"Ok well that may be, but we are not stopping again so figure out what you want to eat or suck it up." I said looking at her. She just crossed her arms over her chest again. I sighed and drank the rest of my tea. Believe it or not we were waiting on Sasuke, Naruto was the first to finish his food. I was looking at the map.

"I thought you knew the route?" Naruto asked drinking more soda and looking over my shoulder.

"I do on foot, but in order to take the car we are going to have to go a different way."

"I see." Naruto muttered,

"We may not be able to drive the whole way."

"Wait, what?" Cedany spoke up, looking up from her phone.

"What about that sentence do you not understand?" I asked looking at her.

"I am not walking." She stated, glaring at me. "If you think you are ditching the car and making me walk all the way to that stupid village you have taken one to many hits to the head." She glared; I opened my mouth when Sasuke and Naruto put their two-sense in.

"Why would we get rid of the car? It is so nice not having to walk everywhere we go. That would be dumb, we should go the route that will allow the car."

"The dope is right; you are stupid if you get rid of the car." Sasuke added.

"Even your team thinks you're a moron." Cedany said with a sneer on her lips. I was about to stand and make how I treated Ino at the village picnic look like five-star treatment when Kakashi spoke,

"Sakura." Kakashi said my name but I couldn't look at him, why? "It does seem a bit foolish to leave the car behind, no one is following us. We will get to the Mist Village faster." I opened my mouth to answer but Naruto once again, stepped in.

"We should vote on it!" Naruto smiled, "All in favor of keeping the car?" Of course, everyone raised their hands up. Naruto smiled at me. "There, problem solved."

"What gives you the right to even make that type of call, you are not a part of this team. You have been pretty vocal about that." I ignored Sasuke. "Your assisting us, not leading this mission."

"Ok, I will be in the car." I nodded. I turned on my heel and walked out of the building.

Team seven was right, I was assisting them. So now I am doing to sit back and not do a damn thing. This mission was not my problem, and neither was Cedany. After seven minutes team seven walked out and piled into the car with Cedany. I put the car in drive and turned the headlights on. Three hours had spun past us, it was close to one in the morning.

"You are getting tired." Kakashi commented.

"I am fine."

"Sakura..."

"I said I am fine." I repeated looking at Kakashi with a stone face.

"I am tired!" Cedany yelled breaking the silence, Naruto jumped up at the sudden loud noise. "I am not sleeping in this thing!" I groaned when Naruto and Sasuke agreed to yet again stop. They weren't even doing anything; I was the one driving the fucking car. But I was assisting, so I only assist. They put to a 'vote'.

Fucking team seven.

After a half hour, I found a hotel to pull into. Naruto got a two-bedroom hotel room. I was glaring at him now. Cedany had declared the farthest bed from the door as her own.

"Sakura." Kakashi said, "You are driving you need to get some rest." I nodded and crawled into bed, not caring I was still in my gear I plopped my head on a pillow while the three guys were figuring out who was taking the floor as their bed tonight.

Naruto lost, since he got this room. Kakashi and Sasuke got on both sides of me. Wait a moment. Sasuke was not my ideal sleeping arrangement, and I still don't know if that was a dream with Kakashi. But if I move that would raise questions, questions I really did not want to try and answer to team seven or to myself.

I was on my side facing Kakashi, but there was a large gap between us. I looked down to see an arm wrapped around me. I looked behind me to see Sasuke, he was holding me against his body. Oh, hell no I picked up his arm and slowly slid out from under his grasp. I climbed out of bed stepping on Naruto, I fell with a thud.

"Ow, Sakura!" Naruto whined. I looked at him, he was laying in his orange sleeping bag.

"Sorry." I muttered.

"Why are you up?" He asked as I sat myself up. "Shouldn't you be snuggling with Sasuke?" Naruto mocked, so he saw that. Well I guess he would since he is the one who had to be awake and on watch.

"That is why I am awake." I muttered.

"Wait, what?" He asked I gave him a dirty look, Naruto giggled. "You mean, you didn't-" He cut himself off laughing harder, "-and he did-" I rolled my eyes then looked back towards the bed, an evil smirk rolled across my face.

"You should get some rest." I said looking at him with a smile.

"What? But I am the one who-"

"Naruto." I cut him off. "Get in bed." He nodded quickly and crawled onto the bed, I rolled my eyes at how loud he was being and how long it took him to get the covers free from Sasuke. It was six in the morning; I grabbed my bag and pulled some supplies out of it. I walked into the bathroom to take a shower and brush my teeth.

"What the fuck!?" Voices screamed, I snapped up stopping myself from brushing my teeth, quickly looking at my reflection in the bathroom mirror before running out into the open.

"N-Naruto?!" Sasuke yelled sounding confused. Kakashi was sitting up with Naruto on top of him, pointing at Sasuke and holding his ass.

"What the hell Sasuke!?" Naruto yelled waking Cedany, "You were spooning me, and you grabbed my ass!" Naruto accused; I could not help but laugh at the play unfolding in front of me. "What the hell Sasuke?! Why were you squeezing my ass!?"

"I-I thought you were-" Sasuke cut himself off and stood up. Kakashi sat up and looked over at me, then back to Sasuke, he put two and two together.

"Sakura!?" Naruto yelled turning to me, looking like he had been assaulted. I shrugged my shoulder and went back to brushing my teeth. For breakfast I had a protein bar and a bottle of water, it was my main diet. Naruto was looking at my version of breakfast and then looking back at me.

"What?" Naruto whined. "These are gross!" I rolled my eyes when Sasuke agreed.

"If they are good enough for an entire army, I am sure they are good enough for you." I said looking around at the group. It took forty-five minutes to drag everyone into the car. Cedany refused to move out of bed, when Naruto turned to me, I simply said I was just here to assist.

Sasuke had to flirt with Cedany to get her moving. Whatever works I guess...we were driving down the road. I was bored, everyone was talking about their own thing. I was lost in my thoughts until I heard a light beep. I looked around, I put my foot on the break only to hear the beep grow faster. I gripped the steering wheel tightly.

You have got to be fucking kidding me.

"Everyone grab your bags!" I yelled out, reaching around to grab mine. I unlocked the doors; I was about to push mine open when saw no one was moving.

"What?" Naruto laughed. "Why?" I snapped up, were they really going to question me? Before I could open my mouth, the beeping grew loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Naruto grab Cedany!"

"On it!"

I tucked in my body trying to shield my side as I jumped out of the car which was flying down the dirt road. Once my foot left the gas it did not take long for the bomb inside the car to go off. My side had me gasping out for air, pain racked through my body.

The pain crushed everything I was, for a moment I was not Sakura Haruno, I was not the commander of the waterfall village and I was not on a mission with a bunch of morons. All my existence was in the moment was pain.

I heard faded screams from Naruto and Cedany. Kakashi's masked face filled the clear blue sky. His mask moved like he was talking but I could not hear him over Naruto and Cedany. He moved, lifting me up off the ground and pulling me into him.

It took a moment for the pain to die down and for me to catch my breath. I looked over where the car had exploded a few yards away. There were bits of fire as the car was now in pieces.

"This is why we do not take cars!" I yelled at anyone who could hear.

"Hey." Kakashi cupped my face with his hand, leading my sight to look at him. "Are you ok? How's your side?"

"I'm fine." I said, walking away from his grasp to check on Cedany who was on her knees crying.

"Are you ok?" I asked looking down at her.

"No!" She cried, "There were still two of my bags in that car!" She cried looking up at me.

"Oh my God." I muttered turning and walking away. I didn't feel any chakra around us, but that didn't mean whoever placed that bomb wasn't near us. I looked over as everyone was getting up and composing themselves.

"Alright, let's go." I called out, picking up my bag. I wanted to get as far as we could from this sight.

"Go?" Sasuke scoffed, "If you had not noticed we were almost blown up, give us a moment to breathe." I walked over towards him. "You are not the boss of us you are not on our team, calm yourself and we will tell you when we are ready to go."

How stupid was this guy? After everything they have learnt about me, he still spoke down to me like I was less of a person than he was. I glanced at team seven, it was like five years never past us, they still viewed me as that little girl who always had tears in her eyes.

"Alright." I said, walking over to Sasuke. "Let's get a few things clear, I am the one who had to save your sorry asses from being killed three times now. I got placed onto your mission because you could not handle the one job you have. I understand your village lacks disciple, but mine does not. You do not get to vote away the decisions the saves our fucking life's. Every time you people make your own decisions, we end up almost dying and becoming a fucking target!" I looked over at Naruto, who was looking at the grass. "If you have not noticed yet my decisions have led me to be the commander of a fucking army. I know what I am doing." I looked over at Kakashi, "I am not a part of your team, if you only want to me assist you that is fine by me, less work for me to do. But when it comes down to keeping you morons alive, I will not be spoken down to, until we return to your village and when we are threatened your ass belongs to me." I turned back to glare at Sasuke. "If you do not agree, I will hand you a map and you can return to your fucking village, and I'll finish this mission alone." I looked around at team seven, no one said anything. "Until then you are under my command, when I say jump you better fucking ask how high." I said, looking back at Sasuke. "Now while you have been fighting me have you ever even wondered who placed that bomb on the car? Are you not curious where those people may be?" I asked.

"You are right Sakura." Kakashi said moving to stand by my side. "We should get moving." I watched team seven pick up their bags and wait for Cedany to get up, she had three large bags. She whined wanting us to take them from her.

"You were told one bag; you carry what you want." I said as she walked over to where we stood, dragging her bags as she did so. Cedany stuck her nose in the air as she walked past me, I rolled my eyes and sighed shaking my head. These people raise my blood pressure. Naruto had been handed two of Cedany's bags as she walked past him.

Sasuke and Cedany were in the front, Naruto and I were in the middle as Kakashi was behind us. I glanced at Naruto who was sweating under the weight of the extra luggage. I believed he was too scared to say anything since he knew I was not in a good mood. I sighed, reaching over and taking a bag from him. He looked at me with large grateful eyes.

I looked ahead, Cedany was flirting with Sasuke again. I took her bag that was in my hand and tossed it to my left into the deep ditch. Naruto's mouth dropped open as we continued to walk. I turned, holding my hand out for the extra bag in his grasp. He looked at Cedany and then me, who was he more afraid of? Naruto let me take it and as I did the same to the first bag and swung second bag to the left, leaving it behind in the unused ditch.

"What was that?" Sasuke asked.

"What was what?" I asked sounding confused. Behind me I heard Kakashi chuckle, making my stomach flip. I ignored the feeling and looked ahead; we were almost to the mist village.

This mission was halfway done.