Chapter 101: A Red Petal on the White Rose

It was because Sasuke asked her that Sakura did not tell anyone that his birthday was coming up, specifically so that he would not be constantly bothered by well-wishers and gift-bearers. But despite the fact, Naruto had once again found out something he wasn't supposed to know, and once again it was through eavesdropping. So of course, knowing Naruto, he went and told everyone that could plausibly care that Sasuke's birthday was on the twenty-third. And it was because of that, when Sasuke and Sakura went on their daily walk around town, he was constantly wished a happy birthday, much to his displeasure. After a while, Sakura could tell that he was beginning to grow rather irritated, especially after he had immediately pinpointed the source of the problem to the correct culprit.

Now as they were walking by the Hokage's tower, he was once again wished a happy birthday by a girl that Sakura didn't even know the name of.

"Who the hell was that?" Sasuke asked her in an irritated tone, as the girl passed them.

Sakura looked once over her shoulder at the girl before leading Sasuke up the stairs to Tsunade's office, "I have no idea—old fangirl maybe?"

"If Naruto knows what's good for him, he'll stay away from me today," Sasuke grumbled hanging onto the railing and Sakura's arm to maintain balance, "I'll kill that dobe for opening his loud mouth."

Somehow Sakura wouldn't be surprised if Sasuke tried to. She smiled in slight amusement as they opened the door to the hall—taking a left and proceeding to the office. True to her word, Sakura was going to get a mission for Sasuke, like he had wanted—that was why they were present at the Hokage's tower. Knocking on the door to Tsunade's office, she waited for a moment to be beckoned to enter.

"Come in," Shizune called from within and Sakura smiled as she opened the door.

"Good afternoon, Shizune-san, Tsunade-sama," Sakura greeted brightly as they entered and after Sasuke entered behind her, she closed the door.

"Sakura! It's been a while since I've seen you," Tsunade smiled in greeting, "I see you've brought Uchiha as well."

Sasuke gave a small respectful nod, but otherwise remained quiet and unmoving. From where she was lying on the floor, Ton Ton the pig stood up and trotted over to Sasuke, and snuffled the floor curiously about his feet. Seeming to meet the pig's approval, she gave a friendly grunt and dashed away again.

"Ah, Sasuke-san, you seemed to have made a friend," Shizune said cheerfully, bending down and patting her pet affectionately, "Ton Ton doesn't usually take kindly to strangers."

"I see," he replied, sounding confused on how he was supposed to respond to this statement.

Sakura was used to this ironic statement that he often emitted, but Tsunade and Shizune looked slightly shocked at his response. Taking advantage of the pause, Sakura decided to put forward her request.

"Tsunade-sama, there was a reason that I came here today to see you," she said to the Godaime, clearing her throat slightly, "I came here so that I could request a mission for Sasuke to complete."

The stunned silence from before dragged out into another stunned silence as both of them turned their gaze to the pink-haired kunoichi.

"A mission?" Tsunade asked finally, seeming to need confirmation that she had heard correctly.

"Yes, a mission," Sakura nodded to emphasize her point, "As you know, I have been training Sasuke to become accustomed to his condition and as a result, he has improved immensely."

"Yes, you mentioned so in last month's report," the Hokage said absently, peering at her pupil perceptively, "But are you sure he's ready to take on the task of a mission?"

"I am the one who's training him," she stated confidently, "And I think that Sasuke is ready start working off his 'community service'."

Tsunade laced her fingers together and rested them below her nose—something Sasuke did out of habit as well. Studying the both of them standing before her, she shifted her gaze from Sakura to Sasuke who was standing silently next to his caregiver.

"Uchiha Sasuke?"

"Aa?"

"Do you feel that you are prepared to take on a mission that I will give you?"

"Yes," his reply was firm, and Sakura knew that he had probably wanted to go on a mission for the longest time, and now he was going to make sure that he got one.

"Alright then, if you both consent, then I suppose it's alright," Tsunade said, unlacing her fingers and reaching for a book on her desk.

Cracking open the book she flipped through the pages, stopping on a couple and marking them with sticky notes.

"It's been a while since you've gone on a mission yourself, Sakura," Tsunade commented, pausing in her skimming to look up at her young pupil, "And Naruto's been bothering me for a while about going out on some as well."

A look of surprise passed over Sakura's face as she began to grasp what the Hokage was implying. Somewhere inside her, a small bubble of excitement started to grow; if Tsunade was saying what she thought she was saying… She glanced apprehensively at Sasuke, holding her breath slightly. Sasuke was wearing a somewhat confused expression, like he too was unsure if the Hokage was implying what he thought she was.

"I think it's high time that Team Seven was reunited, don't you?" Tsunade said with a smile before turning back to her book.

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