The very next day, all four members of Team 7 gathered in front of the ninja academy.
"You're late, Kakashi-sensei!" said Naruto, jabbing an accusatory finger in his direction. "And on the first day of our mission as a new team, ya know!"
"My bad, my bad," said Kakashi lightly, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I procrastinated a bit filing the new team's paperwork…"
Perhaps being perpetually late was Kakashi's way of honouring Obito's memory.
"You had all of yesterday to get it done," Naruto grumbled. "Kakashi-sensei, you're really not motivated, are you? You haven't changed a bit…"
Naruto kept nattering on about how thrilled he was as they climbed the steps to the top floor of the academy, where the Mission Assignment Desk awaited. Sakura looked up at the ceiling, spotting an enormous kanji for 'shinobi' painted above them, just in front of a banner proclaiming, 'good luck everyone.'
How had she not noticed that before?
There was no one in the queue when they arrived, so they all strolled up to the desk, behind which Tsunade, Shizune, and Iruka-sensei were waiting, along with several other civil servants.
"Yo, Granny Tsunade!" Naruto said irreverently. "Got any S-rank missions for us?"
"Naruto, show some respect for the Lady Hokage," Iruka chided him. "Besides, you're still a Genin. S-rank missions are far too difficult for you just yet."
Sasuke sniggered.
"I've got the perfect mission for your team, Kakashi," said Lady Tsunade, wisely choosing to ignore the troublemaker. "B-rank mission: capture Condor, the ninja ostrich, and return him to his owners."
Naruto's, Sakura's and Sasuke's faces fell.
"Nuh-uh, no way," said Naruto bluntly. "We are NOT going on that mission!"
"Young man," said Tsunade, glowering at him. "…you do realise who you're speaking to like that, right…?"
For once, Sakura and Sasuke had Naruto's back about his pickiness over missions. For one thing, that mission was far beneath their level; for another, they truly hoped never to set eyes on that ostrich again, if it could be helped…
But just as Kakashi went to accept the mission briefing sheet from Tsunade…
"Lady Fifth!" a woman's muffled voice rang out behind Sakura, followed by the sound of a door being flung open. "T… terrible news!"
"Now what?" sighed Tsunade, tilting her head to look behind Kakashi.
Sakura turned around to see what was going on. The baddie who had just burst through the doorway was a genius decoder from the Konoha Cryptology Team; aged twenty-four, very much single, and unreasonably attractive.
"Long time no see, Yurika-onee-chan!" Sakura called out to the young woman dressed in black, curling a lock of her pink hair around the tip of her finger bashfully. "What brings you here?"
A few weeks ago, after Sakura traded the Lightning Style Chakra Mode's training method for some merits, Tsunade had naturally asked her why the scroll she had stolen from the Raikage wasn't encoded. Sakura replied that it had been, but that she had decoded it.
Sakura had subsequently been dispatched to the Cryptanalysis Team to explain how she'd managed to break Kumogakure's top secret codes. She'd walked them through the System's decryption algorithm, which had led to her being mistaken for a decoding prodigy.
And that was how she had come to know Mitoku, the rather cantankerous middle-aged department head; Shiho-chan, who was quite pretty but quite blind without her spectacles; and Yurika-chan, who exuded the allure of a sophisticated woman and possessed the word 'yuri' in her name.
So, yay for Sakura! She had made new female friends!
"Urgent news!" said Yurika breathlessly as she ran past Team 7 to the Mission Assignment Desk. "We've just received word that the Hidden Sand's former Kazekage has been successfully extracted by our operatives!"
About a month ago, right after the joint Chūnin Exams, Guy, Tenten and Karin had stayed behind in the Land of Wind to try and rescue Gaara from his house arrest— before the Akatsuki had a chance to pay him a visit.
"That's great news!" exclaimed Tsunade, her breasts jostling wildly under her robes as she abruptly stood up from her chair. "Is there more?"
"Yes, Milady!" said Yurika, handing over the decoded letter. "Here are the details."
Tsunade accepted the missive and began reading it over. A frown creased her brow as her eyes darted up and down the page, visibly perturbed by what she found. Meanwhile, Sakura edged over to Yurika and, standing on tiptoe, leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"I like your make-up," Sakura mouthed.
"Thanks," Yurika murmured back. "Want me to show you how to do it later?"
Having had little contact with women in her previous life— save for her elder sister and the older girl next door— Sakura had never thought much of make-up, nor of the gyaru types who enjoyed layering it on, firmly believing that going au naturel was best.
Yet, after leafing some more through the original Sakura's notes, which included the make-up tutorials she had learned during kunoichi seduction classes at the academy, Sakura had realised that, when used in moderation, eye shadow, eyeliner, and lipstick could emphasise and accentuate her most striking features tastefully.
After all, it was not for nothing that the original Sakura had always been known as the prettiest girl at the academy, even surpassing Ino. She took great care of her appearance, though that had taken a marked decline ever since the current Sakura had replaced her.
Thankfully, most people now seemed more interested in ogling her chest than noticing that she hadn't bothered to tame her bed hair or apply any lipstick, but Sakura was determined to change that. She needed to make sure she looked nice before setting her permanent Transformation Jutsu appearance in stone!
"Change of plans," said Tsunade, handing the sheet of paper to Kakashi. "Team Kakashi, I hereby amend your mission: you will depart for the Land of Wind at once. Rescue Team Guy, and whatever you do, do not let Gaara fall into the Akatsuki's hands. Once the rescue is complete, return to the village with him immediately."
Sakura glanced at the missive.
Team Guy, disguised as Akatsuki members, had taken advantage of the real Akatsuki's invasion of the Hidden Sand to rescue Gaara from house arrest from right under everyone's noses!
Unfortunately, that's where the good news ended.
So far, Team Guy had managed to stay ahead of their pursuers by relying on Tenten's Flying Thunder God Jutsu, but it was stated that at the time the messenger hawk was sent, she was already exhausted. To make matters worse, Guy was in critical condition after having inhaled some poison gas during the rescue, and it was taking Karin all she had to stabilise him.
"Two enemies," murmured Sakura as she finished reading the last few lines. "Deidara: an Explosion Corps Missing-nin from the Hidden Stone who can fly; and Sasori of the Red Sands: a puppet master Missing-nin from the Hidden Sand…"