Chapter Twenty Eight

"What is so damn important we are playing mailman?"

"The Koh-I-Noor." Sakura answered, stealing a glance at Kakashi, her heart instantly skipping a beat, taking his appearance in. He had his nose in one of his little books, Sakura turned forward clearing her throat.

"The Koh-ma-huh!?" Naruto tilted his head.

"The Koh-I-Noor is a very expensive and rare diamond." Kakashi recalled, "There is only one of its kind in the world and I thought the Waterfall Village was holding it for safety?"

"That's what I wanted people to think." Sakura smirked.

"Who does the diamond belong to?" Sasuke carelessly wondered.

"The Village Hidden in the Stars." Raiden answers, "That's what we are doing? Collecting it?"

"Why are we bringing back to the village?"

"Because they are paying Sakura to protect it." Carver states eyeing the pinkette.

"WHAT!?" Naruto jumped, flipping around to Sakura.

"It's funny when you guys find out this stuff." Raiden muttered pulling a bag of chips.

"Why are they paying you?!"

"Why wouldn't they?" Carver asked a better question. "Sakura is the Reaper after all. If you want anyone to watch over the most expensive diamond in the world Sakura would be my first pick."

"Where is the diamond?" Kakashi inquired. "If it isn't inside of the Star Village because they are too scared it would cause them to be attacked and it isn't inside the waterfall village where everyone thinks it is..."

"Where the hell did you put it?" Naruto grilled.

"The Genjutsu Tree Village." Sakura shrugged.

"Why the hell would you leave it there-?!" Naruto waved his arms around, "-that place sucks!"

"Do you think a priceless diamond would be stored there?" Sakura countered.

"Well no..."

"There you go."

"Why are we moving it?" Carver yawned. "The stone has been safe for years, why move it now?"

"Years?" Naruto muttered trying to process.

"Because we need it." Sakura replied.

"Why-?" Annoying Sasuke chirped in. "-we aren't a big enough target as it is?"

"We do get attacked a lot." Raiden nodded.

"We need just need it." Sakura tried to shrug off the conversation, but Naruto never lets anything go.

"Why?" Naruto hummed, "It's not like we need the payments." When Sakura didn't respond Carver understood.

"Are we doing that bad?" He wondered.

"Huh?" Naruto blinked.

"We aren't in the red yet-" Sakura glanced over her shoulder.

"Key word being yet." Carver caught on. "How low are we?"

"What are you guys talking about?" Naruto spun around walking backwards to better see the group behind him.

"How are you this slow?" Raiden asked himself, "The village is low on funds, that's why we are going to-"

"Wait-!" Naruto spun around to face Sakura, "-what are they talking about!?"

"Naruto-" Sakura calmly stated. "-if you yell in my ear one more damn time-"

"I'm sorry!" Naruto defended. "But are we not doing-"

"The village is fine." Sakura reinsure, sugar dusting the truth. "I am just being cautious is all."

"Oh." Naruto blinked, then a goofy smile took over his face. "You're always looking out for us!"

"I am." Sakura nodded, Carver rolled his eyes, her lies always tasted sweet.

"Say-" Raiden realized, "-the Star Village should have been paying you this entire time, right?"

Sakura shrugged.

"How much do they pay you?" Sasuke's voice sounded like nails on a chalk board.

"Enough." Sakura's answer was stiff, causing Sasuke to frown.

"How does this all work?" Naruto crammed his hands into his pockets. "Like...why would the Waterfall Village be ok with their name being used, since Dawn isn't happy with us-"

"Dawn believes the stone is in the village." Sakura countered, "Only two people knew where the stone was truly hidden."

"Really!?" Naruto gasped, "Who." Sakura tried to muffle the an annoyed expression growing onto her face.

"Me and the village leader."

"Oh." Naruto nodded, "Not even the Star Village knew?"

"Nope."

"Isn't Tanishi going to be pissed we are taking the stone?" Carver stretched his arms tucking them behind his head. It would make more sense why Sakura brought him and Raiden along if she expected Tanishi to put up a fight.

"His issue isn't really isn't our problem." Sakura breathed in.

"Tanishi?" Naruto whispered, furrowing his brows

"I believe you know of him Naruto." Raiden pointed out.

"How do you-?"

"We were there not long after you're training."

"Wow-" Naruto breathed; "-I am so excited for this mission!"

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"I wanna die!" Naruto gasped throwing his head backwards.

"Your fine." Carver waved off.

"How are you still standing!?" Naruto gushed, "I feel like I'm going to collapse any second! But you three look like you just woke up refreshed!"

"We are used to these kinds of missions." Raiden pointed out. "What did you think a mission with Sakura would be like?"

"Nothing like this!" Naruto frazzled, "We have been moving for three days straight and only camping outside. I smell like dirty gym socks!"

"You do." Carver agreed.

"Shut up!"

"I'm just agreeing with you." Carver laughed.

"I need more from you Carver!" Naruto droned.

"Like what?" Carver winked sending shivers down Naruto's spine, causing him to scoot closer to Sakura.

"Are you three done?" Sakura looked over her shoulder.

"Ask Naruto."

"Why are you throwing me under the bus!?"

"You're the one crying."

"I am not crying!"

"You really are." Carver mocked.

"Oh my God-" Sakura breathed. "-shoot me."

"Perhaps we should set up camp from the night." Kakashi suggested. "It seems Naruto is beginning to crash."

"Yeah." Sakura muttered, looking over to the blond whose hair was disheveled and clothing scruffy. "Alright-" She called; "-we are stopping for the day."

"Really?" Carver and Raiden were astonished.

"I'm not carrying him when he collapses." Sakura gestured to Naruto who was already on his ass in the dirt, bag thrown off to the side.

"Good call."

Night quickly stretched wide across the sky, the sun fell asleep while waking the stars.

"Hey-" Carver nodded, pulling Sakura's attention. "-you good?"

"Yeah?" Sakura replied, glancing around the campfire. Raiden and Naruto was already passed out, his foot hanging out from his sleeping bag. Sasuke and Kakashi had gone off to collect more wood.

"You seem a bit more distracted." Carver shrugged. "You're not one to be distracted, especially out on a mission."

"It's nothing-"

"Is the village in bad shape?"

"It's nothing like that."

"Then what is?" Carver pressed. "You know you can talk to me about anything, I got your back."

"I know you do." Sakura agreed. "I just...I don't know what to do-"

"You don't know something?" Carver playfully smirked. "I gotta mark this day on the calendar."

"Ha-Ha." Sakura rolled her eyes.

"What's this about?"

"Annistyn." Sakura sighed, "She hasn't called."

"Oh." Carver nodded understanding. "Maybe she just needs more time-"

"It's been two months." Sakura flared, "I..." She sighed, looking away.

"You're scared she doesn't want to leave the Waterfall Village?"

"If she wanted to stay, she could just have told me that and not ghosted me."

"Maybe she doesn't know how, because she feels she would be disappointing you."

"She knows she could never do that."

"Are you sure about that?" Carver countered. "Because when it comes to you...it's real hard to let you down."

"I don't...I don't think she should be there."

"Because you're not there?"

"Because she already had to grow up so fast, I don't want her to blink, and her childhood be gone."

"You feel guilty?" Carver read Sakura's clouded eyes.

"I was so wrapped in being Commander to see how she was suffering inside that place."

"That isn't on you." Carver reached over touching Sakura's shoulder. "Annistyn is a good kid; she will come around. It might take a bit, but she is smart."

"I know."

"Your just impatient."

"I can't even go visit her..."

"I mean you could."

"I know Dawn has people watching her."

"Yeah, that does sound like her." Carver nodded. "But when has that ever stopped you?" Sakura smirked.

"Everything ok?" Kakashi turned the twos head, his exposed eye locked onto Carver's hand resting on Sakura's shoulder.

"Yeah." Sakura nodded; Carver smirked removing his hand holding them upward in a defensive gesture.

"Everything's good chief."

"Chief?" Sakura furrowed her brows as Carver scooted back to the safety of his sleeping bag.

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