AN: I had a 24 hour period where I watched all things Pride and Prejudice and Darcy's characters had a striking resemblance to our favourite once-revenge-obsessed-duck-butt-haired antihero. The rest came together very easily. While I'm following key plot points/themes from Pride and Prejudice, story is still very much set in the Naruto world, and I'm trying to keep the characters as close to what they would do in their situations.

Disclaimer: All the characters and the world in which this story is set belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I am just placing them in plot points and themes from Pride and Prejudice which belong to Jane Austen

It is a universally acknowledged truth that single man belonging to a good clan, must be in want of a wife.

Or so her mother always said.

On the battlefield, Sakura Haruno was an accomplished kunoichi. Her fists were feared, her chakra control was impeccable and her skills as a medical ninja were only rivalled by that of her master, Tsunade Senju. Only for a little while longer though, Sakura hoped as she strove to surpass the woman that introduced her to this new life.

However, in the eyes of her doting mother Mebuki Haruno, Sakura Haruno was a disappointment as a daughter. Rarely home. Rarely clean. Rarely ladylike. And the worst sin of all – unmarried.

When Sakura Haruno became Tsunade's apprentice, she hoped that the plague that was her mother's deafening groaning and concern would lessen to a mere whisper. Oh no, quite the opposite. Marriage became of the most upmost importance as Sakura signed up to what Mebuki saw was a young death.

Sakura couldn't call herself completely immune to the fantasy. If she had to admit, she would say that she hoped becoming a shinobi would actually increase her likelihood of being married. She would be working in close proximity with noble clansmen, surely one would take an interest in her. What a young Sakura did not account for was that there was very little time on a mission or on the battlefield for courting. Oh no, it was only when she was filing the paperwork at the end of a mission and she was staring at the ID of one of her follow teammates that she realised she had completely blanked wealthy, chisel jawed, smouldering clansmen.

" The briefing should be over in two hours time," Sakura shouted down the hallway as she fumbled with her boots. " But then I'm thinking about doing some training so don't expect me for a while!"

" Sakura!" her mother cried out, the same routine every morning. " My dear child I've learnt to never expect you home. You have to talk to the Hokage I'm sure that they…"

Sakura closed the door firmly, pretending to remain oblivious to the same request that her mother makes of her every morning.

She strolled down the familiar path, no sign of the hurry that was upon her moments earlier. She really enjoyed walking. Not fast paced mission fast walking. Not careful quiet infiltration. Just calmly making her way through a place where she wasn't expecting a kunai in her back.

She finally arrived at the bridge, a favourite meeting spot for many teams. However fewer and fewer teams were in the village these days, so the usual urgency to secure the spot was long gone.

The only one who escaped their home earlier than Sakura was Hinata Hyuuga. Hinata greeted Sakura with a warm smile that Sakura returned. Their friendship would have been impossible before the Fourth Great Ninja War. To a clueless onlooker, they were two nineteen year old girls on a pleasant morning walk. The reality was that one was born to commoners and the other was the heir of a prestigious, wealthy and feared clan. To each other, they were sisters.

Next came Rin Nohara. She was the oldest of the group, like a mother figure. The girls often believe they have cracked the case, learned all the sides of her that they need to know, only to discover that Rin and their newest captain have a past.

Tenten followed. Sakura believed that her and Tenten would be annoying each other in every life, no matter their status. Tenten, like Sakura, fought among the beasts with no clan name to hide behind. Sakura thought that she had found someone to turn to, only to find that when she turned to her she would get a hug one day and a slap the other. They didn't talk about Tenten's deep admiration for Sakura's master.

Ino arrived last. Sakura often worried about being put in the same squad as Ino. Ino was the reason Sakura grew out of her 'sheep dog' phase. Ino was the reason Sakura could get back up on days she wouldn't otherwise. Ino infuriated her more than Tenten, mothered her more than Rin and was kinder to her than Hinata. Sakura thought about the unimaginable worst scenario more than she should because Ino was on her squad.

Last, as per usual, was their newly assigned captain, Kakashi Hatake. Like Rin, Sakura had a history with their captain. Although probably not of the same nature. Kakashi had always kept an eye on her as she progressed through the ranks. He admired Sakura's dumb habit of jumping straight into danger, unprepared, no match for the enemy, just so that the impact fell on her and not her teammate. Sakura began to view him as her surrogate father on the battlefield, although he probably would not like the implication on his age.

They went through their usual routine. Strict, unchanging, yet never boring. Normally he would get called out comically by Ino or Sakura. Then a small comment from Rin would make him apologetic. He'd ask Sakura to ask Tsunade to pass a message onto Jiraiya, which Sakura always vehemently refused. A young kunoichi could not be seen with the filth that was their back and forth. They'd round up how they spent their time since the last mission, often being scolded for training too much, partying too much and worrying too much.

" Say…Kakashi-sensei," Ino's coy approach made the hairs on the back of Kakashi's neck stand up straight. He knew no good could ever come from this request.

" I've heard that the Sunagakure front is requiring more and more shinobi everyday," Tenten continued, this was a planned assault.

Sakura chimed in, " Ah, yes Tenten, we're gaining really good ground there."

" It could be a turning point in this war," Kakashi became truly terrified as he noticed Hinata joining in.

Rin's voice broke through, " I think that our squad would be of real good use at that battlefront, more so than any other mission you might have planned."

" Now, now, ladies," Kakashi often wondered how he had gotten himself into these kinds of situations. " We must remember that headquarters has the best insight on the war, so we must trust their judgement."

" Are you saying we have worse judgement than those men?"

" No Sakura, that's not what I meant. What I meant was…"

" Let's remind ourselves of your earlier comments, shall we?" Rin was on the war path. " You girls are only matched by the elite squad. Were you feeding us lies?"

" No! Rin! C'mon!"

" The elite squad is currently on the Sunagakure front."

" Yes Hinata but…"

" Should we not be amongst our equals?" Tenten pounced, kunai in one hand.

" We will go where we are needed," Kakashi utilised his serious captain voice, but the girls refused to back down. " What would you like me to say? Hokage-sama we request that you overturn this well thought out and planned operation so that we may disgrace the reliability and reputation of our squad just so the girls can oogle at some cocky shitheads with silver spoons in their mouths?"

Hinata looked away uncomfortably. Tenten slumped, anger and frustration written across her face. Sakura just glared. She observed Kakashi. She noticed there was a lack of severity and harshness as he finished.

He relaxed to continue but it was Rin that spoke next, " I'm disappointed in you Kakashi and your perception of these excellent young women."

" Rin wait…"

" Yes, we are overstepping normal boundaries but that is because we are not a normal squad," Rin stated fiercely.

" Rin…"

" These young women are intelligent and ambitious and all have had to overcome obstacles because of cocky shitheads with silver spoons in their mouths that sit on the council. They work twice as hard as any other squad around here but get a fraction of the recognition and respect that they deserve."

" Do you know why Kakashi? Because we're the only all kunoichi squad around here!"

" Yes, let me…"

" When you came along, we had hope. We had someone who would fight for us at the council table and not scoff at being assigned to us. Someone we trusted to respect us like any other shinobi."

" And for kami's sake Kakashi…so what if they want to oogle at some clansmen? You know that's not their true motivation. So what if these girls want to act their age and recapture a bit of normality. You know that wherever they are, whoever they will be with, they will always work hard and act professionally. You read porn in front of us kami's sake, who are you to judge!?"

When Rin finished, her cheeks burned bright crimson and her eyes remained fixated on Kakashi. Her fists were clenched, ready to literally smack some sense into him. The other girls could only look onto her with admiration. Sakura memorised that look in Rin's eye, she felt that she might need it herself for later.

Kakashi placed his hands softly on Rin's shoulders. Underneath his mask, the girls could tell a small smile spread on his lips. Not condescending. Not patronising. Genuine pride.

" I know Rin. That's why I tried to relay your feelings to the council yesterday. Only less eloquently and masked in official lingo. I got quite a warm reception actually."

Rin's stance relaxed. She looked up to meet Kakashi's eye.

Kakashi turned his head to look at his squad, " Be ready for a 6am start tomorrow at the gates. Get your things in order. Resolve any business. We'll be at the Sunagakure front for quite a while."