Chapter Twenty Seven

"Sakura-" Tsunade strolled into the office, pulling the beloved emerald eyes from the computer. "-have you seen these!?" Tsunade questioned holding a file in her hand.

"A file-?" Sakura asked, "-yeah I know what a file is."

"What?" Tsunade blinked. "No, these-" She smacked the vanilla-colored file on the desk. With a deep breath Sakura reached over, opening the folder while under Tsunade's intense gaze.

"Yeah, I seen these." Sakura brushed off, pushing the pile of papers containing reports of dead bodies being discovered.

"What are we going to do?"

"I wasn't planning on doing anything."

"What!?"

"Those people who were found aren't leaf, and it's out of our territory." Sakura explained, "If the villages come to us then I would think about it but why would we get involved?"

"Because-wait what are you doing?" Tsunade leaned forward seeing the contents of Sakura's computer.

"Looking at the budget." Sakura explained.

"What for?"

"Because we need something to pay the shinobi?" Sakura raised her eyebrow. "Have you not looked at the reports lately?"

"Well...not really..."

"The incoming mission requests have declined." Sakura waved.

"So, they declined a little bit, it happens." Tsunade waved, "We will be fine."

"Are you sure?" Sakura asked,

"Are you sure?" Tsunade countered.

"We haven't gotten a new request in two weeks." Sakura looked into her amber eyes. "Whether that be from a natural decrease from the season change or from something else, I added a lot more shifts to the rotation and it's beginning to strain our budget."

"Is it?" Tsunade leaned closer, getting a weft of Sakura scent, it reminded her of home.

"Yeah, I don't want to risk going into the red."

"So, what do we do?"

"I might need to leave for a bit."

"Leave?!" Tsunade stood. "To go where!?"

"On a mission."

"What mission?"

"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise." Sakura smirked at her annoyed face.

"Sakura-"

"Tsunade." Sakura cut in, "I might have a way to fix this financial issue, just let me do my damn job."

"I just worry-"

"You don't have too." Sakura stressed. "I know how to take care of myself."

"I know it's just...." Tsunade sighed, "...are we ok?"

"Ok?"

"Are you mad at me?"

"I'm not mad Tsunade." Sakura exhaled, understanding. "Just annoyed you won't listen to me."

"It was wrong-"

"I'm not having this conversation again." Sakura stated, "You will never change my mind on how I view those things."

"This mission..." Tsunade flipped topics seeing she wouldn't win. "...how long would you be gone?"

"Probably a week." Sakura shrugged as she got up from her desk. "I'll be headed out in a few hours."

"Are you going to tell me about this magical mission?"

"The less people who know about it, the better."

"I am not just someone-"

"Tsunade." Sakura calmly replied, "When have I ever let you down?"

"Your right." Tsunade nodded, "I trust you. But if you're leaving on a mission, I want you to take your team."

"My team?"

Tsunade flashed a mischievous grin.

"I don't need a babysitter."

"They are not your babysitters; they would be your back up."

"I don't need back up."

"Everyone needs back up."

"Shoot me." Sakura turned to leave.

"Sakura-!"

"I'm fucking doing it!" Sakura groaned, "But I'm going to complain the whole time!"

"That's fine." Tsunade waved, knowing it wasn't her problem.

----

Sakura leaned against the front gates of the village waiting. She sent out their text messages hours ago, where the hell were they?

"Sakura-!"

Speak of the devil.

Sakura turned seeing Naruto and Kakashi walking towards her, bags resting on their back.

"-I can't believe we get to all go on a mission!" Naruto chirped beaming with exultation.

"Thank you for including us." Kakashi looked gazed at her, she rolled her eyes.

"Mhm."

"You're not happy we are going." Kakashi chuckled.

"I don't need babysitters." Sakura mumbled.

"We are your team." Naruto bounced. "We got your back! Where you go, we go!"

"Joy." Sakura muttered.

"Hey-!" Naruto called waving both arms above his head, Sakura glanced over her shoulder and internally cringed.

"Why is he here?" Sakura turned to Naruto.

"Huh?" Naruto blinked. "Why wouldn't Sasuke come?"

"Because I didn't invite the little sunspot."

"How come?" Naruto's overly large eyes glowing with innocence annoyed Sakura.

"Why didn't you send me a message?" Sasuke asked once he was in earshot.

"Because we don't like you?" Carver wondered; walking up behind the group.

"You guys are coming too!?" Naruto hyped up seeing Carver and Raiden.

"Yep."

"I should have gotten a message-" Sasuke turned to Sakura. "-I am a part of this team-"

"If we order something from the soap opera channel-" Carver shoved past Sasuke, "-we will let you know."

"That was mean Carver!" Naruto pointed out, "Sakura-!"

"If he says something I disagree with I'll you know." She responded, kicking herself off the wall.

"Where are we going?" Raiden yawned following his team as they left their beloved home.

"I assume Tsunade knows about this mission?" Kakashi turned walking by her side.

"No." Sakura answered, looking over. "No one knows."

"Do we get to know?" Carver questioned.

"Ah fuck-" Raiden groaned. "-we are gonna get our asses kicked, aren't we?"

"Why do you say that?" Naruto questioned.

"Well considering this mission is off the books-" Carver scratched his neck. "-it can't be a walk in the park."

"It's off the books?" Naruto hopped to Sakura's side.

"Yeah."

"Why!?" Naruto was dying to know!

"We are going to pick up a package."

"What?" The men standing around you blinked.

"That's it?" Carver frowned. "Then why are all of us going?"

"I didn't want anyone going." Sakura clarified, "But Tsunade forced me."

"I feel so special." Carver crossed his arms.

"Why did you pick us then?" Raiden wondered.

"Who else would I want to tolerate for a week?" Sakura smirked.

"Aw-!" Raiden cooed; "-we love you too!"

"Can someone explain this mission?" Sasuke annoyingly felt out of place inside his own team.

"Can you stow away that attitude?" Carver fueled the fire.

"Can you not be a dick?" Sasuke countered.

"I can but for you that seems-"

"Shut up-" Sakura called over their voices. "-or I'll send you right back."

"You would miss me too much." Carver smirked; Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Why is this mission off the books?" Kakashi joined in on the questioning.

"Because I didn't want anyone to know about it."

"Oh, so informational thank you."