Colours in the black n' white haze | Narusasu

Mission

Sasuke's POV:

A knock came at my door in the evening. I was quick in expelling my female form and opening to see a masked figure,
"What's an ANBU doing here?"
"I'm here to escort you to the Hokage's office, you're needed for a mission." She was surprised, they haven't sent me on one in a long time.. why are they asking me of this right now? Could it be a suicide mission?
She sighed,
"And I'm assuming I can't go by myself?" The man nodded,
"Alright."

She was led inside the Hokage Tower and into the Hokage's office, the woman in green awaiting her.
"Hello, Sasuke. As you may have been told already, you're going on a mission."
She nodded for the Hokage to continue.
"You're being sent out to track down this band of criminals in the Land of Wind. They have requested your assistance as you possess the Sharingan. You should talk to the Kazekage for more details." I nodded, before the door burst open.
"Baa~chan, what did you need me and Sakura~chan for?" Satsuki could feel the eyes on her,
"Sasuke~kun.."
"What's Sasuke doing here?" The Hokage spoke up,
"You three are being sent on a mission to find a band of criminals in the Land of Wind. They also requested a medic-nin and Uzumaki Naruto himself be at the scene."
"Alright! A new mission!" Naruto cheered. The Hokage sighed to herself,
"Alright, get going you three." They stepped outside, Satsuki just barely through the door when the Hokage spoke to her one last time;
"Oh and Sasuke," She turned to her,
"Welcome back." Satsuki's eyes widened, unidentifiable emotions running through her chest before she turned on her heel and shut the door behind her.

They went back to their respective houses and gathered the things they need and met at the village entrance. Satsuki and Sakura were the first to get there.
"Hah, that Naruto.. always late," Sakura had said,
"Hn." Satsuki could feel her emerald eyes boring into her,
"So how are you adjusting back into the village? It's been a few months now, hasn't it?"
"Hn." Sakura looked down as if wondering what to say next.
"Sasuke~kun, I know you're probably tired of hearing it, of me hinting at it.. but I really do have feelings for you. I respect if you don't feel the same—"
"Haven't I shown you that enough?"
"I.. I- of course, you have. I suppose I just can't help but insist I know for sure, that child-like feeling of wanting your crush to notice you.." She trailed off, before looking Satsuki in the eye.
"Sasuke~kun, I just want you to know that I am no longer weak. I'm no longer 'just a kunoichi', no longer in the way. I am stronger now, though even I know that I can never be at you and Naruto's level, I want you both to not worry about me," Sakura smiled,
"I won't get in the way!" It sounded bittersweet to Satsuki's ears, but she believed Sakura. She looked her in the eye for the first time in a long time and smiled,
"Okay."
"Friends?" Sakura hesitated,
"Friends." She smiled at Satsuki, and just in time, Naruto ran up to them.
"Where have you been?! You're twenty minutes late!" Sakura punched him on the head,
"Sorry Sakura~chan, I was going to say goodbye to Satsuki but she wasn't at Sasuke's like she usually is." Suddenly her chest felt heavy. Sakura narrowed her eyes,
"Satsuki? Who's that? And why would they be at Sasuke's?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you about her? She's Sasuke's friend from when he was in the Akatsuki,"
"Ehhh?! And she's here in the village?!"
"Oh but it's okay, Sakura~chan! She's wasn't apart of them, dattebayo." She turned to Satsuki,
"So who's this friend of yours?" Satsuki hesitated for a second before walking right past the two,
"We should get going." They trailed alongside her before Sakura asked her to tell her about 'Satsuki' — or more like demanded it.

We stopped for the night in an open area just next to the forest and set up camp. I used katon to light a fire, and we took some food out from our bags.
"Naruto.. did you seriously only bring ramen?" Sakura swetdropped, Naruto glanced up, his mouth full;
"Yeah?" Satsuki sighed at this. She took out an onigiri, just listening to their bickering but not involving herself. How would they even feel about her being a girl? Would Sakura freak out? Would Naruto? He already likes Satsuki, but sooner or later he'll find out she's her, and then what? What will the village think if she permanently becomes a girl? Not that it ever mattered before.. but this would be different. And if she had children, it would surely be worse.. wha—
"Sasuke~kun?"
"Hm?"
"We were calling you, are you okay?" She asked, visible concern on her features. She nodded,
"I'm fine." Naruto arched his eyebrows,
"You're not.." she felt sizzling fear but it came out as anger;
"Dammit, dobe, can't you just leave me alone?"
"You bastard, I was just worried is all!"
"Then stop worrying and shut up will you? You're so loud."
"Seriously?! I didn't even do anything to you?! Why are you suddenly like this?!"
"Argh both of you cut it out!" The ground beneath us formed a spiderweb of cracks coming from Sakura's fist.
"...Sorry, Sakura~chan." I exhaled before standing up,
"Where are you going, Teme?" I didn't spare him a second glance before leaving to the middle of the field where a creek was present, the sound of water calming my nerves. I don't know where I was going to go, just needed to get away from them. From him. From everything. Focus on the water.
I stayed there for a while until rustling came from behind me,
"Sasuke?" I turned my head to see Naruto. He stood next to me as if asking for permission to sit. I nodded and he sat next to me. We stayed in silence for a while before he spoke,
"Sakura~chan is worried about you, ya'know?"
"Hn."
"I didn't mean to push you, I just wanted to know what was wrong. You're always so secretive about how you feel, and I didn't want you to get overwhelmed.. I just.. I care about you, Teme." A smile grazed my lips,
"Hn. I'm sorry too. I just didn't want to talk about it." He nodded,
"Still don't?" I glared at him and he laughed,
"Sorry, sorry, just joking. You're still the same bastard I know."
"Hn." Silence again. But this time, it wasn't cold, it wasn't filled with the overwhelming storm of emotions I felt previously; but a warm blanket enveloping the two of us. His hand reached around the small of my back, and I could feel my heart pump faster. So warm. I've never felt so.. not alone. So safe in the presence of this man. It's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I couldn't help but relax into his touch. Before I knew it, my eyes drooped and my head grazed something warm and I could feel my consciousness slip away into that colourful feeling.