This Unplanned Life

Mission / Life

Sakura's first mission came earlier than she had anticipated.

Since filing for active duty, she spent three days a week at the hospital and did training - both physical and improving her jutsu - the other days. A month into the schedule, she was making lunch when a runner from Tsunade's office arrived, delivering a mission scroll.

"Three days," she told Itachi, reading the briefing. She would be heading south, to help with some small border skirmishes with the Land of River. "I'll be with Naruto, Sai, and Neji, it seems. Orders are to depart tonight."

Thankfully her go-bag was already packed, so she set the scroll aside for the moment, grabbing lunch to join Itachi and Emiko at the table. Itachi was feeding Emiko, though their daughter seemed to be enjoying spreading and smashing the berries onto her tray more than getting them into her mouth.

"I can ask Mom to watch Emiko in two days?" she asked, setting out their dishes before sitting down.

"Mother was asking to have her for a day," Itachi said. "I'm sure she can watch her."

"Perfect." Picking up some rice, Sakura held it out, watching with amusement as Emiko tracked the moving chopsticks before opening her mouth. Deftly dropping the bite of food in, Sakura grinned as Emiko hummed, slapping her fruit covered hands together. They had started trying Emiko on different solid foods when she was six-months old, and she had taken to eating fairly well - if they could get her to stay still long enough to actually eat.

"There are some meals in the freezer, so you won't have to cook after your healing session. But make sure you eat," she told Itachi, grabbing a few bites of fish. The past month helped establish a routine that would work with her being away, and while she knew Itachi would take care of Emiko, part of her was worried he would ignore his own needs. When he nodded, getting Emiko to take a raspberry from him, she waited until he made eye contact.

"I will," he promised, and Sakura smiled before focusing on the meal.

Once they finished lunch, Itachi was washing off Emiko's face when he felt someone's chakra approaching.

"It took him longer than I expected," Sakura said, having also felt the wave of energy headed their way, just before Naruto burst into their house.

"Sakura-chan!" the blond called. Comfortable after having become a regular guest in their house, Naruto wasted no time in kicking off his sandals before rushing into the kitchen. He gave Emiko a quick head rub – causing her to gurgle in happiness – before he latched onto Sakura, lifting her off the ground. "We have a mission!"

"I know, now put me down!" Sakura said as he swung her around. "You should be packing."

"I will, I will, but I wanted to make sure you were really coming!" Naruto said, setting Sakura down before he went and took her spot at the table. Itachi had finished cleaning Emiko, who now had her gaze fixed on the blond ninja. Naruto plucked her from the chair and set her on his lap, causing her to start babbling in happiness. "You going to be ok watching our princess, Itachi?"

Itachi just quirked an eyebrow at the question, that Naruto returned by grinning, not bothered by Itachi's reticent communication. Years of friendship with Sasuke had trained him and he could see the Uchiha wasn't insulted, merely amused.

"Hina wanted me to mention that she is available to help, if you need it," Naruto offered and Sakura couldn't help but smile at the offer, feeling a warmth in her chest at her friend's kindness.

"At this rate, we'll have her visiting more people than staying with us," she chuckled, going to stand next to Itachi, resting her hip against his chair as she watched Naruto spend a few minutes playing with Emiko.

"Ok, time to pack!" he announced, standing and passing Emiko over to Sakura. "I'll see you at the gate tonight, Sakura-chan!"

"Sounds good." Walking him out, Sakura helped Emiko wave before heading back to the house. Itachi stood and went to take Emiko, but Sakura shook her head. "I got her. We're going to go take a nap, if that's ok?"

"Of course," Itachi said, letting them head down the hall to their bedroom. While Emiko normally napped in her crib, Sakura was suddenly reluctant to let her go. Removing the baby's dirty clothes, Sakura curled up with her on their bed, humming until Emiko fell asleep. She was just starting to fall asleep herself when she felt Itachi join them, so that Emiko lay sleeping between them. Smiling gently, she met his eyes before drifting off, content with her family next to her.

- - sSs - -

That evening, Sakura walked through the village with Itachi and Emiko next to her. She adjusted the pack on her back, making sure it would be secure when they left. It felt strange to be back in field gear after almost a year away, but the weight was equally comforting.

Turning the corner to the main street leading to the gate, she was surprised to find they were the last to arrive, despite being minutes early. Watching Naruto talk with Sai and Neji, dressed in the same gear as her, she paused, suddenly apprehensive.

"I didn't rush into this, did I?" she asked, glancing over at Itachi. Seeing Emiko watching, she blinked as tears threatened. "I thought I wanted this, but – "

"You're ready. And we'll be fine," he told her. "It is hard leaving, but it's the life we signed up for."

"Right. I guess it's always just harder putting things into practice," she said, lips twisting wryly. Turning when she heard Naruto call out to them, she waved before holding up a finger, asking for a final moment. Taking a deep breath, she bent and pressed a kiss to Emiko's forehead, letting her hand rest on Itachi's briefly. Knowing he wasn't comfortable with public displays of affection, she had kissed him goodbye before they left their house, but she smiled as he threaded their fingers together briefly, squeezing before letting go.

"I love you both. I'll see you in three days," she said as she straightened. With a final, silent, farewell to Itachi, she turned and went to join her mission team.

"Sorry for making you wait," she told the group of males. "Ready to head out."

"On your mark," Naruto said, grinning at Neji who was their mission leader.

"Let's go," the Hyūga agreed, and the four set out.

"You going to be ok?" Sai asked Sakura as they followed Neji and Naruto. "You were looking pretty ugly there."

Sighing, Sakura leapt into the tree before addressing the artist.

"Sai, don't make me punch you into a tree before we even leave the village."

- - sSs - -

That first night, Sakura recalled some of the worst parts of being on a mission. The first was that sleeping on the ground was hundreds time worse than her bed. The snoring form of her best friend less than a foot away didn't help, and not for the first time in her life did she marvel that the noisiest person in her life was somehow a ninja.

Itachi spent the first night Sakura was gone on the couch, Emiko asleep on his chest. He laid awake in the bed – their bed –, but found Sakura's absence made it hard to relax and sleep. When Emiko started crying, he was grateful for the excuse to go get her. After calming Emiko down, the two eventually drifted to the couch and fell asleep there, covered by Sakura's favorite blanket.

- - sSs - -

The next thing Sakura remembered was that meal rations were disgusting, tasteless things that were worse than chewing on cardboard.

Around the same time, Itachi let lose a rare sigh of frustration as Emiko decided she no longer enjoyed bananas, and decided to have a meltdown during breakfast. A well-aimed glob of banana managed to knock over Itachi's tea, leaving him to clean the mess as Emiko finally stopped crying to give a small giggle.

- - sSs - -

"You're a healer? Can you come by our clinic?" the chieftain of the village they had been hired to help asked, once Sakura's training came to light. Sakura wanted to decline – often smaller villages tried to take advantage of med-nin to heal any scrape and bruise – but Neji gave her the all clear.

"Naruto and Sai aren't due to report in for another few hours," Neji said. "We'll fetch you when they return from scouting."

"Got it," Sakura said before following the chief.

In Konoha, Mikoto frowned as Itachi opened the door.

"You look tired," she told her son, noting the faint shadows under his eyes. As she followed him into his house, she spotted the folded blanket and pillow on the couch and realization dawned. "Having trouble sleeping the past two nights?"

Itachi paused before giving a brief nod. Mikoto smiled in understanding, running her hand along his arm before turning to Emiko, who was watching them from her play-pen.

"It'll get easier," was all she said as she picked up her grandchild.

"Thank you for watching her today." Itachi said. "I will be by to pick her up in the afternoon."

"Take your time. We'll be fine for the day," Mikoto said as she watched Itachi gather the bag for her to take, filled with Emiko's toys and extra clothing. "Ita-kun..."

Surprised at the use of his childhood name, Itachi turned towards her. "Mother?"

It hadn't escaped the notice of the clan that Itachi had been pulled from ANBU since his injury shortly after Emiko's birth. Mikoto had pressed Fugaku to give Itachi more time to deal with whatever was keeping him in the village, seeing that his health had seemed to improve over time. The stress and exhaustion that had seemed to plague him for the past 15 years had melted away the longer he had stayed home.

Now, however, seeing the vestiges of his old appearance, she found her own promise to stay silent had fallen away to the concerns of a mother.

"Is everything ok?" Mikoto asked softly. Itachi stared at her, face carefully blank before she saw his eyes soften. Stepping up to her, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and another one on Emiko.

"Yes, everything is fine," he told her and Mikoto met his gaze until nodding when she didn't detect that he was lying to her. He didn't provide any answers, but she decided to not press.

For now.

"Take your time. We'll be fine for the day," Mikoto told him. She watched as Itachi gathered the bag for her to take home, filled with Emiko's toys and clothing. Ignoring the recent exhaustion, she didn't fail to note that he appeared healthier than in recent years. While she was curious about the true reason for his inactive status – not quite believing the excuse previous given – she was equally happy to see him doing well.

- - sSs - -

The second night of the mission, the village was attacked by the rogue ninjas. Sakura had been patrolling the southern edge when she felt a flare of chakra from Sai, who was also on patrol. Frowning, Sakura raced through the sleeping village, tracking Sai's moving chakra before finding him engaged with five masked nin not wearing identifying markers from a hidden village, confirming their rogue status.

Forming a quick series of hand seals, Sakura cast out one of the genjutsu Itachi had taught her. It caught two of the nin, and she used the time they would be caught to send the signal to Neji and Naruto, alerting them to attack.

When one of the nin managed to break the genjutsu, they were quickly met with a glowing, chakra infused fist. Sakura dealt a series of quick blows, fracturing the nin's collarbone and at least two ribs, before landing a bruising shot to their left kidney that knocked them out of the fight. She was approaching to secure them – their orders were to avoid killing the rogues - when the other nin broke free of her genjutsu. Twisting, she evaded the kunai thrown at her and was straightening, arm extended to return the volley of weapons when Naruto arrived, five of his shadow clones surrounding the nin.

"Got this one, Sakura-chan!" the blond announced and Sakura didn't waste breath on a response as she focused on her earlier enemy who had managed to regain his consciousness and feet despite his broken bones. Scowling when he decided to flee instead of face her, she made chase after him into the tree. Dammit, she hated it when they ran!

"Get back here."

Green eyes looked up as Itachi stared down the hallway after Emiko. She babbled back at him in response, continuing down the hallway until she reached the end. Uncertain what to do without anyplace left to go, the baby sat down and appeared to be considering her next move when she was lifted from the floor.

Walking back to the living room where he had been reading, Itachi returned Emiko to the mat he had set out for her. He slid the door close after them, hoping it would be enough to contain Emiko long enough for him to get through the report Tsunade had requested his help on. Handing Emiko her favorite toy, her stuffed pink bear, Itachi returned to his abandoned spot on the couch.

He had managed to make it through a quarter of the report when a soft sound made him looking up to see that Emiko had pushed through the thin paper of their shoji and was once again making her escape. Sighing, he put aside the report and rose, going to fetch his daughter.

- - sSs - -

The best part of missions was definitely the home coming Sakura decided. As the Hokage Mountain started to rise out of the forest, Sakura channeled extra chakra to her feet, letting her overtake Neji and Sai. Only Naruto managed to keep up with her increased speed and the two shared a quick grin as they raced the final stretch home.

They dropped to the ground of the gate and Sakura waved in greeted Izumo and Kotetsu. She glanced back over her shoulder, and was debating on sticking around for Neji and Sai when Naruto nudged her.

"Go home, Sakura. The three of us can report to Baa-san," he told her, aware of her internal debate. Sakura only hesitated for a second before she nodded.

"Thanks, Naruto," she said, giving her friend a relieved grin before she took off towards the Uchiha Compound. She took to the rooftops to avoid the civilian foot traffic and being spotted, and only dropped back down when she reached the gates.

Inside the compound, she made her way through the streets. It was dusk so the streets were mostly empty, and the few other Uchiha wandering were also headed home. She didn't offer more than quick nods of acknowledgement until the house – home – appeared and she broke out in a jog.

Clearing the steps in a single jump, she opened the door.

"I'm home!" she announced, and was struggling with her sandles, standing on one leg when Itachi appeared.

Seeing him Sakura let her leg drop as a rush of emotions ran through her – relief, joy, and love. Deciding her shoes were unimportant, Sakura launched herself down the hallway, cutting off his greeting as she pressed her lips to his. He steadied them before they toppled under her enthusiasm and weight, securing her against him before returning her greeting as enthusiastically as her. She took in his scent, his warmth before pulling back and grinning up at him, eyes moist.

"Welcome home," he told her, a small but warm smile on his lips.

A/N: Holy crap this story ended up being much longer than expected when it first came to mind. And I obviously played around with the style in the second half, so let me know what you thought?

Sai making an appearance is a bit random – I'm not 100% sure if ROOT exists in this world? I just wanted to have someone who would harass Sakura over crying when they left, and Sai is really the only character who really fills that roll, so he's in the story.

Thanks for the reviews, as always.