They met early at the gates, all present except Sakura.

Naruto was astonished."Kaka sensei, You're early!"

"Wouldn't want to miss Sakura's first team captain experience."

Sasuke spoke,"Where is Sakura?"

"Getting our mission scroll from Tsunade."

Two years in the making. Now here Sasuke was, trying to remain emotionless on the outside, waiting for Sakura to emerge with her own scroll.

"Why is it taking so long?" Naruto asked. "She's never late and we've been waiting here for 45 minutes."

Tsunade's eyes traced over her protege'.She had expected a reaction like this and she didn't blame the girl. The Slug princess knew Kakashi would comply and take care of her. Sasuke would at least give her a child to love if he abandoned her and the Leaf would have another Sharingan user. Between the two men was great wealth and Sakura would not struggle. The girl would run after Sasuke forever regardless. She couldn't say all of this though. Sakura needed to choose.

"Sakura, you've wanted to be with Sasuke ever since I've known you. What's the issue?"

"Tsunade-sama, women who aren't Uchiha die sleeping with the men. I can't help but love Sasuke kun, and I want to be with him, but I won't survive it."

"I have found a way, Sakura. Everything you need to be with Sasuke will be going with you."

Tsunade handed her a pill. "Here, take this now. You'll need it."

Sakura swallowed it,"Hai."

She wouldn't mind a bottle or two of sake to wash it down with either. Her nerves were shot. She had been trying to find a way to be with Sasuke, but Tsunade already had?

"You don't have to be with Sasuke. You can choose any of them."

There was no way Sakura would screw Hinata's husband and come back to look her in the face.

Having sex with Kakashi was very tempting, but dangerous. That was for fantasy only. Sasuke being with her had been and still was her dream, but choosing him meant losing Kakashi. She'd done her best to ignore her feelings and just not think about them. Now they were front and center. She couldn't deny that something was there and that she would mourn the loss. She felt like she wanted to cry.

"Sake?", Tsunade asked with one beautiful eyebrow raised in invitation.

"Please Shisou."

Naruto saw Sakura approach and she seemed.. Tipsy ?

"Uh, Sakura, are you okay?"

"Shut up Naruto!"

She looked to her right."Kakashi."

He strode over to her, leaning down to hear her, knowing she would speak softly.

"Tsunade gave me a Shojo scroll. Do you think the boys know? What do I do ?"

Kakashi looked up to survey the young men.

Sasuke looked bored and ready to be anywhere else. Naruto was staring off into space and digging out his earwax with a stubby finger.

"I don't think they have a clue Sakura chan." he whispered.

Then aloud ,"Sakura is in charge guys. Whatever she says goes."

The mission begins. It's not far so they walk.

Sasuke grasped the necklace in his pocket again, running his fingers over the circles. He hoped he could pull this off. He would have to open his heart to both of them, more than he was sure he could. He needed them to ever have a family again. Avenging the past had not been the answer. Moving on from it was. It was all he had left to try. Nervous or not, scared or brave, they would be moving on together… hopefully.

He had wanted Sakura so badly, for so long. The thought of pushing into her wet innocence and successfully implanting his child into her while she imploded with desire had him broiling with impatience. He wanted to get there now, but if he walked any faster he'd lose the view of Sakura's heart shaped rear walking in front of him. Not to mention draw attention to himself. She was walking next to Kakashi and they were murmuring. Sakura was likely very nervous. Did she realize he and Kakashi were too? He smirked at the self concious behavior of his former sensei. Sakura was likely panicking to a degree she didn't even notice.

Kakashi flipped over a page to cover his mirror jutsu on pg 232.

"I take that back Sakura. Sasuke has to know. He looks like he's about to blow a gasket back there."

She started to turn back to look

"Face front!"

"Sorry."

"You'll get your chance Sakura, but if you want it to last at all, I suggest you use your hands on him first."

Her face turned beet red "Hai."

Oh that was so cute! He wondered if he could make her just a little more flushed.

"Did they teach you how to do that in kunoichi class ?"

His heart was hurting that he wasn't chosen, but what did he expect? This conversation with her had him at half staff, fantasizing about knocking Sasuke out and putting on a henge.. He was a sick, horrible man. If only Sasuke was easier to make unconscious… This mission was going to kill him, possibly by a noose hung from the ceiling fan in his apartment when they got back.

"Tsunade wouldn't let me. Something about a clan contract."

"But you're not in a clan, Sakura. How would … Hmm."

That bastard ! He already laid claim to her through Tsunade! How dare he!

"Maybe Sasuke already asked her to marry you when he was here last. That would explain it."

He swallowed hard and gave her an eye crinkle, incredibly grateful for his mask, biting out as cheerfully as he could manage,"Congratulations."

"If that's true then why all this?"

"It's Tsunade's way of asking your permission, I think." She at least did that, then. A darkness crept over Kakashi's soul. Sakura would be incredibly unhappy as Sasuke's wife and he knew it. Sasuke would need a good 20 years from now to become what he would consider a decent husband to Sakura. He loved her as well as he was capable but it wouldn't be enough and it looked like Sasuke was well aware of his deficits. Was the boy really that selfish? How could he do this to her? But he knew why. She would never forget him, she would always want him no matter who she was with or how happy she was. Maybe he'd decided to go ahead and curse her with his presence out of some twisted mercy so she had something of him at least, allow her desire for him to be honorable. Could Kakashi allow his desire to be dishonorable on a long term basis? Sakura would need more than Sasuke could give her eventually and she would fall into someone's arms. After a year or two of the raven's absence Kakashi was certain he could seduce her and get her hooked, but would that be enough for him? He could feel a migraine coming on.

Sasuke caught the brief, unguarded look of pity the Copy Nin was giving Sakura. So she had decided then. On him. He breathed a small sigh of relief. Then a speculative contemplation seeped into Hatake's eyes. Sasuke bristled. Yes, you bastard, I know you'll be fucking her when I'm gone. Lucky for you it will be with permission and I won't have to kill you for it. Sakura was no match for the wiles of their former teacher, strong and capable as she was. While Sasuke had been gone he'd trained his fantasies to revolve around all three of them or even stroked himself to the thought of her and the silver haired nin in his absence. He was a jealous man and knew he would have to work on it.

Sharing her was going to be just as hard for him as being there for her.

They arrived and began making camp. They set up the tent and put one sleeping bag in it. Kakashi ushered Sakura inside.

"I'll talk to them."

She was so grateful ."Thank you Kakashi!"

He walked to the campfire where the boys had settled, silent as stones. Those two were never quiet around each other. What else could it be?

"You knew ?", Hatake asked.

Sasuke stood up and headed toward Sakura's tent. "I'm going to her."

"Naruto, how did you know?"

The young man scratched the back of his head and averted his eyes

"If I tell you I won't be able to do it again, dattebayo."

Kakashi placed his elbows on his knees and dropped his face into his hands. This was going to be so hard. He didn't just want her, he loved her, and he wanted her to be happy in a way that would last. How long would it be before he found her crying on the couch again? Sasuke had looked at him at the gates like someone very experienced in gay sex. He could only imagine what Sakura would go through now.