Chapter 22 -
"Stop..." Kakashi signaled both of the boys. "What is the meaning of this?" He looked around them.
And as he said that, their appeared a ring of Konoha ANBU surrounding them.
The three of them visibly relaxed, seeing that the ANBU were of the leaf.
"Genma, Asuma? And Kurenai... And Gai too... Is that Lee?" Kakashi went around the circle, figuring out each of the ANBU.
All the ANBU looked at Sakura, who nodded slowely.
At their captain's permission they all removed their masks.
"Why is Lee with you?" Sasuke asked.
"Well you see, I got permission to tag along from-" Lee looked at Sakura for reassurance.
She gave none and so he said: "Our captain."
Team 7 peered over at the Captain that Lee had referred to.
It was definetly a woman.
What a perculia mask she wore.
Kakashi had certainly never seen it before.
"She must be great if she's your captain!" Naruto shouted looking around the elite group.
'Sakura?' The energetic blonde wondered.
"Hai. She is." Itachi said smoothly, gazing over at the kunoichi.
Team 7 now looked at the shinobi that could not be named.
"Both our groups are on our way to the hokage. We must go now." Sakura said sternly, through the mask.
The mask disguised her voice just enough for none to recognise her.
None but Naruto.
'I know it's you Sakura. And I'm so glad.' He thought happily.
The journey home from where they'd met up was fairly silent.
The only conversation was small talk between Kakashi and Genma, and the occasional joke from Naruto to Lee.
When they reached the Gates to Konoha, there were a few friendly words between the gate minders and Sakura, before the troop sped off to meet with Tsunade.
When they arrived, Sakura walked up to the fifth and embraced her.
"Mission a sucess I assume.?" She looked lovingly at her aprentice.
"Hai. Of course." Sakura replied.
"Sometimes, I wonder why I bother asking with you." The lady laughed.
Sakura handed Tsunade the scroll.
"The north, south, east and west hide-outs?... Amazing." Tsunade smiled at Sakura and then the whole squad.
"And you brought home some old friends too?" The lady spied Team 7.
Sasuke and Kakashi looked confused.
"Hai Sensei. We ran into Naruto, Sasuke-kun and Kaka-sen-... Kakashi." Sakura finished.
"How convenient... So you've been aquainted yet?" Tsunade asked.
"No, I didn't think it an apropriate time." Sakura said.
"Didn't think it an apropriate time? What kind of a fangirl-" Sasuke was saying when Kakashi stuck his hand out.
The silver haired jounin walked forward slowly, and bent slightly, to eye-level with the women.
"You've grown strong... Sakura-san.