NARUTO
I feel groggy as my eyes slowly open to see bright sunlight flooding my room. My body is sore from training yesterday, and I almost don't want to get up at all. I sit up and look straight at my newest ramen poster. This lifts my spirits and I can tell that it is going to be a great day! I could have ramen for breakfast, but milk is probably better for me. I gulp it down then get dressed. I tighten my headband in front of the mirror, I truly look like a ninja.

Heading out the door, I quickly look at our team photograph. Team 7 - Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno. And Kakashi of course, he is our sensei after all. He seems especially proud of me for some reason, it's kinda creepy. Shivers. Anyways I'm glad Saskue came back to us, if he hadn't of chosen our side, Orichumaru would have definitely taken over his body, I don't even want to imagine that.

We have been called to meet Lady Tsunare, so I head over straight away. Looks like the others already there, Saskue greets me with the evil grin of his.
"Hey there sleepyhead, too many dreams of ramen?" He comments.
"SASUKEEEEE!" I'm outraged. I'm sick of him already and the day hasn't even started.
"That's ENOUGH Naruto! I haven't even given your mission yet and you're already making a fuss", Lady Tsunare punches her fist into the table. Eeeeeeeek, she's so scary when she gets mad.
"Uh... sorry granny!" I hastily take my place beside the others.

SASUKE
Heh, that idiot. He's such a hothead and got here late, pathetic.
"Now, the mission I have for you is a B-Rank, so listen up." The Hokage begins. "We have heard from the Sand Village that they have detected mysterious occurrences in the atmosphere around their village, nothing dangerous so far, but we cannot say that for sure. From what we know, clouds of purple gas has burst from random locations, the ground has started to open up in different places and there are various foreign tracks around the area."
"So they haven't figured out who's tracks they are?" Sakura asks.
"No. They are not consistent and some have disappeared, this is in the desert do mind, most of them have likely been blown away by the harsh winds", Lady Tsunare describes.

This reminds me of something, but I disregard it. It can't be that, it's not possible.
"So, I want you three, Kakashi is on another mission at the moment, to go with Team 8 and Team Guy, plus Shikamaru since he's the other smart one other than Saskue, to meet with the Sand Ninja and come up with a strategy to figure out just what is going on, is it a threat and what to do about it. For this mission, Shikamaru is team leader." Shikamaru, the other 'smart' one? Sure, if he hangs out with Naruto, he's totally going to be as dumb as he is.

We are dismissed and given an hour to prepare for the mission.

SAKURA
Sasuke seemed a little off during that meeting, I saw him overthinking a little. Not that I was sneaking looks at him the whole time (inner Sakura: yeeahhhh like hell I was! Gooo Sakura! Huahhhhh!), but he was becoming uneasy as Lady Tsunare was explaining the details. I hope he's okay, after all he went though, that's all I want for him. As we leave the Hokage's headquarters, I mentally begin to estimate what I'll need for the mission. I'll need at least 20 shuriken and 15 kunai knives.... Naruto interrupts my thoughts.
"Hey Sakura, are you glad we are going with the others on this mission? I feel like I haven't seen Akamaru in ages, I wonder if he's grown any more...."
"Yeah I'm glad they are", I mumble. Only more interference between Sasuke and I.
"I'll meet you at your house later, then we can meet with the others! You too Sasuke". Naruto runs off in excitement, he's probably glad it's a B-Rank mission. He's such a knucklehead, but I do owe him one, he saved Saskue after all.

Meanwhile, a far distance from the Leaf Village....

KAKASHI
This.... it can't be.

Snakes are seething out of the cracks in the earth, all with curse marks.

Is Orochimaru here? At this very moment?

One of the snakes whips up and bites Kakashi on the neck. It stays there until a distinguished mark is imprinted on his skin, like a tattoo. He falls on the ground in agony.