The next few days went by very similar to the first. Naruto and Sakura did most of the talking, while Kakashi and Sasuke were content to only add to the conversation when deemed necessary. Sakura thought she could count on one hand the amount of times that Sasuke had contributed to the conversation that day, but considering the first day he'd ignored them, she considered this a huge improvement.

Naruto suddenly whined loudly that he was getting bored before he turned to Kakashi "How long is this quest going to take!?" he demanded.

Kakashi sighed in slight annoyance at being interrupted from his reading. "As long as we're not attacked or delayed in any way we should reach the Toad Sage's mountain in a couple of months time." He clarified and then continued reading his scroll.

"Awww man!" Naruto moaned again making Sakura chuckle lightly. Then the blonde suddenly thought of something and jumped in the air with a fist pump. "Yeah I got it! Why don't we play a game to pass the time-ttebayo!" he announced.

Sakura noted that he seemed to add his catch phrase on the end of everything whenever he got excited.

Sasuke turned around with a look of annoyance. "What are you twelve or something? Stop being such a loser and focus on the task at hand."

That deflated Sakura a little as she'd been interested to see what Naruto was going to suggest. However like always Naruto was not deterred by the grumpy elf and continued his ramblings.

Grabbing Sakura's and Sasuke's shoulders he pulled them in so that the three were closely huddled together.

"We should see who can get that mask off Kakashi's face. I mean I know that sorcerers are meant to be mysterious and all, but come on! I haven't even seen him take it off to eat!" he whispered so that Kakashi who was ahead of them wouldn't hear.

That definitely perked up Sakura's interest, and she could see by the fact that Sasuke had stopped struggling to break from Naruto's hold that he was interested as well. Naruto grinned evilly then knowing that both of his companions were in on their little 'game'.

As the trio gradually lagged further and further behind their silver haired leader, they continued to whisper in hushed voices, plotting and planning.

"Ok, so we're all agreed, anything goes? May the best man-I mean person win-ttebayo!"

Two weeks after they'd begun their silent competition, the three young members of the group sat huddled around the fire all with sour and defeated looks on their faces. Kakashi had gone to the stream to bath so they were left to discuss their current predicament freely.

"How's that even possible?" Sakura whined while Naruto recounted how his attempts had failed yet again.

She looked over at Sasuke who was refusing to make eye contact with either of them. Even he had failed to de-mask the famous sorcerer.

How could none of them have managed to see beneath the mask even once? They had tried everything and all attempted multiple times, but no one had even gotten close. It didn't help that Kakashi had clued in to what they were doing and had even begun teasing the trio.

Sakura thought back to when Kakashi had finally confronted them about it.

"You could have just asked you know?" he had told them after another unsuccessful attempt.

"Really? Then will you show us?" they had asked.

"Sure, but first what's the magic word?"

"Please!?" Sakura immediately answered.

"Ramen!?" Naruto shouted with excitement.

Sasuke remained silent.

Kakashi chuckled "Nope, you're both wrong. Come back to me when you've worked it out" he said before walking away mysteriously.

"What do you think the magic word is?" Naruto asked as he laid down and lazily scratched his stomach.

Sakura crossed her legs, putting a finger to her lips in her thinking pose. "No idea, but I bet the answer is in one of those scrolls he's always reading." She finally answered.

"hnn. I doubt there's even a 'magic' word to begin with, he's just toying with us." was Sasuke's sullen response.

"Why would he lie?" Naruto demanded.

Sasuke glared at him "Why would I know Loser?"

"Bastard! I'm just about fed up with your attitude! Call me a loser one more time and I'm gonna punch that smug face of yours." Naruto challenged.

"Loser" came Sasuke's snide response.

Before Sakura knew what was happening, Naruto had pounced at Sasuke and the two had begun to fight in a scuffle on the ground. Truth be told Sakura had a hard time telling who's was winning as they rolled around throwing punches at each other. They seemed fairly equally matched but Sakura wasn't about to let them find out who would win by allowing the fight to continue any further.

Stomping up to them she grabbed Naruto by the collar and yanked him off first before she forcefully shoved Sasuke away.

"Naruto you're an idiot!" she scolded before turning on Sasuke and pointing an accusing finger at him

"And YOU! You're a jerk!" she shot. "You both need to grow up and stop acting like twelve year old's!"

Naruto and Sasuke looked at her in shock before looking away.

"Sorry Sakura Chan"

Without any further words the trio went back to their respective places around the fire. It was an awkward silence for a few moments before Naruto's charm broke through and help ease the tension.

"You know I've heard rumours about this Toad Sage's Mountain. They say that there's treasure!"

"I've never heard anything like that before, but I'd never even heard of it before this quest. If there is treasure, do you think that there's something guarding it?" She asked

"Most likely" Sasuke answered.

They considered what would await them at the Toad Sage's Mountain. If there was treasure, there would almost certainly be something protecting it. They would have to investigate what Kakashi knew later on but for now they pondered in silence. Sakura had been lost in thought when Naruto suddenly spoke again.

"So Sakura Chan, do you have a boyfriend?"

Where had that come from?

"No!" she snapped in embarrassment.

Naruto beamed at her then "Then wanna be my girlfriend?"

He grinned like she'd already accepted his offer.

"No idiot!" she yelled as she violently shoved him away. Her face was growing hotter by the second and she stared intently at the fire intentionally avoiding both men's faces. How could Naruto ask her that!? And in front of Sasuke!? What would Sasuke be thinking right now? Wait why should she care?

She was saved from her hell when Kakashi returned to camp. "Who's next?" he asked.

"I'll go!" Sakura said as she shot up and quickly walked away towards the stream without so much as a backwards glance.

Kakashi turned to Naruto and Sasuke "What's up with her?" he asked.

Naruto looked thoroughly depressed and didn't answer while Sasuke shrugged like it didn't interest him. Kakashi looked from the two men to Sakura's bag of belongings that remained near the fire. In her rush she'd completely forgotten to grab her stuff. Well this is not going to end well. Kakashi thought to himself.