Italics are thoughts. Bold is "Inner Sakura".

A/N: This is my verrryyy first fanfic ever, with my favorite pairing(: Sooo, yeah, I'm pretty excited, buuut, I apologize ahead of time if it's awful. Everyone has to start somewhere, and they're all a little rusty right? .. right? Well, I hope it'll be good, but I'll improve with experience and tips from some lovely readers, so make sure to leave some reviews! :3

*Sorry guys, I didn't realize that when I uploaded the chapters they were all bolded. Buuut, I'm fixing them!(:

Reunion

Sakura was in her kitchen putting the kettle in the stove to make her daily jasmine tea when a knock sounded on the door. Sakura opened the door to face an ANBU woman wearing a dog mask.

"Haruno, Hokage-sama wishes for you to see her right away." Immediately after informing the pink haired kunoichi. the masked woman disappeared with out a sound.

Once the door was shut once again, Sakura turned to approach the whistling tea kettle. She grabbed a glass from the cupboard above the stove, filled it with the sweet smelling beverage and left. She took her time walking to the Hokage tower while sipping her warm drink and enjoying the cool morning air.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Yes! Yes! Come in!" yelled Tsunade while rubbing her temples. These damn hangovers are terrible, why must everyone bother me so early in the morning?

Sakura walked in the room and stood directly in front of Tsunade's desk. "Good Morning Shishou, you wanted to see me? Don't tell me I have to do a shift at the hospital, today's the first day off I've had in months!" Sakura said while a pout formed on her face.

"Calm down Sakura, you'll be getting many more days off if you just wait a little."

"Well, what are we waiting for? Why won't you just te-"

"We're waiting for Naruto and Kakashi. The three of you will be sent on an important mission. Sai won't be able to go because he's currently on a different mission, as you know. " Tsunade interrupted Sakura.

Sakura's eyes sparkled with excitement, it's been nearly a year since her last mission with team 7. As the head medic in Konoha she has many duties to fulfill in the hospital and spends a lot of time in the lab researching new poisons and antidotes. Any mission she is sent on in the mean time is either medical related- varying from traveling to other cities to heal the serious cases only someone as advanced as her could handle, to giving seminars and spreading her vast knowledge- or has to do with ANBU.

The door opened with a swoosh as Konoha's knucklehead ninja barged in. "Ooooh, Baa-chan, do I get a mission? Pleeeeaaseeee? Its been forever since I've... Hey, what's Sakura-chan doing here?" Naruto scratched the back of his neck trying to figure out what was going on.

"Ugh, Naruto can you please be quiet for five minutes? Be patient and wait. I'll start this meeting once the final person arrives." Tsunade sighed, once again rubbing her temples, this time in irritation. Why can't he talk with a normal voice for once? He's always so cheerful and overly excited. All this noise is making my head ache worse.

An hour later the quiet office filled with a poof of smoke.

"Sorry I'm late, you see, there was this old lady walking from the mark-"

"Be quiet Hatake, we don't have time for your horrible excuses. Now, time to get down to business. Team 7 will be sent on an A-ranked mission. There has been word that Uchiha Sasuke has been seen in Rain Country near Fire Country's border. This is the first sighting since the last time you guys went to capture the Uchiha a year ago. I presume he's there looking for Itachi." Tsunade eyed the group waiting to see how they react. Well how Naruto and Sakura react, Kakashi always has his emotions hidden under that mask of indifference.

"Well, he killed Orochimaru a couple years ago, do you think once he's killed Itachi he'll come back home? " Naruto asked with hope gleaming in is eyes.

"It seems to be that way. We should tail him until he's killed his brother and capture him immediately afterwards, maybe he'll come willingly. If we allow him to kill Itachi we'll be killing two birds with one stone due to the threat he poses towards Konoha and Naruto." Sakura said while tapping her chin, lost in thought.

"That's exactly what I had planned for this mission, very good Sakura." Pride filled the Slug Queen's eyes as she faced her apprentice. " You guys leave tomorrow morning, go home, rest, and pack your things. Now get out and let me get some sleep! SHIZUNE! Bring me some sake!"

"Hey! Sakura-chan! Kakashi-sensei! We finally get a mission together!" Naruto placed his hands behind his head with a giant smile on his face.

Sakura ignored Naruto as she was lost in her thoughts. Oh my gosh, I can't believe I finally get to go on a mission with my boys. It's a shame Sai won't be there, I've missed him too.

Oooh, you'll be on a mission with Kakashi, you better make a move!

Are you crazy? He's my sensei, I can't flirt with him! He wouldn't even want to… He wouldn't waste his time on some naive girl who's 14 years his junior.

Well, we're the same person, so I guess I am crazy. But who cares? Show him the woman you've blossomed into. He's not even your sensei anymore, he's your team mate, your equal.

I've admired him for so long and have tried to impress him but he hasn't even turned his head in my direction. He still sees me as a child.

Then show him the woman you've grown to be. Make him notice you. You'll be on a mission with him for who knows how long, make a move.

B-but, I don't know how to get someone like him to notice me. Let alone make them interested I-

"... umm, Sakura-chan, I asked if you wanted to go to Ichiraku's with Kakashi-senei and me."

Sakura's cheeks became a soft pink as Naruto startled her from her reverie and noticed the two staring at her. "U-ughh, n-no thank you. I think I'm just gonna go home and sleep the rest of today off, but thanks for the offer." Sakura said with a small smile on her lips.

"Aww, you're no fun Sakura-chan." Naruto whined pouting.

"Get some rest Sakura, we'll all meet at the gates tomorrow at 7. First we'll come up with a plan, and then we'll leave for the mission." The masked nin said with his famous eye crinkle.

"Alright you guys, I'll be there by 8:30 then. Knowing you'll be at least an hour and a half late sensei." Sakura jumped onto the roof of a near by cafe and made her way home.

"Hey, I'm not always thatlate. I remember when all of you guys showed so much respe-"

"Kakashi-sensei you're always late, and then you come up with some lame excuse, usually one we've heard a hundred times."

Kakashi sighed and looked down at the younger jounin walking next to him. Hmmph. Things just aren't the same. I remember when they thought I was so cool, but now they think I'm lame. Man, I really am getting old. " Well, let's go get some Ichiraku before I decide to change my mind about tagging along with you."

With that Naruto ran full speed towards his favorite restaurant in all of Fire Country.

Sakura filled her pack with Kunai, Shuriken, Senbon, herbs, and her black gloves along with some food, money, and extra pairs of clothes.

Once her bag was packed she set it in the corner of her room and plopped onto her bed. Tomorrow this mission begins and I'll make sure to get Kakashi's attention.