Chapter Three: Alliances And Sabotage

"So…What made you change your mind Sakura-chan?"

Naruto was sitting comfortably on the pink-haired kunoichi's couch as the young woman busily moved about her tiny kitchen, fixing up some Beef Ramen. Although her stomach protested it, since she had Ramen that afternoon with Naruto, it was, unfortunately, the only food she had in her cupboards at the moment. The blonde, hyperactive ninja was clearly salivating with hunger as the delicious smell filled the four-room apartment. However, he suppressed his urge to pounce for the steaming pot Sakura prepared, more interested to hear the reason why one of his closest friends, finally agreed to one of his – in her words – "crazy ideas".

Over the breakfast island, looking into the kitchen and the at the white Haruno circle upon the Medic's back, Naruto's sapphire eyes watched as she shrugged her shoulders, turning towards the island and pouring the Ramen into two bowls, a deep frown on her face.

"You needed help," She supplied simply with a half-hearted amused smile, green eyes looking up briefly from her task to meet Naruto's dry, incredulous look.

"Sakura-chan…" Naruto admonished knowingly, eyebrow raised, expecting a more elaborate answer.

Sakura laughed as she placed the empty pot into the sink, silently thinking that Uzumaki Naruto knew her all too well. Then, she picked up the steaming bowl and headed to where Naruto sat, taking a comfortable seat beside him and giving him his own – much larger – bowl of Ramen, which he eagerly took and began to inhale.

Sakura let out a sigh, even as she smiled, and ate at a much slower pace, "…It was Kiyoshi-san…"

The blue-eyed shinobi immediately halted in his movements, even as stray Ramen Noodles dangled from his mouth and his chopsticks were already halfway to his mouth with a new batch to consume. His gaze slid over to the young woman beside him, trying to gauge her reaction from this new discovery and watching with a raised brow and concern as her smile slowly disappeared into a frown as she stared aimlessly into her full bowl.

Naruto swallowed the contents in his mouth and frowned as he turned to face her completely, "What did he do to you Sakura-chan?"

Sakura panned her gaze to him and only gave a small smile, waving her hand dismissively as she shook her head, "Oh he didn't try anything Naruto…I wouldn't allow him to……It's just, you were right…He seemed so intent and confident that I was going to return with him to Lightning Country to become his bride…"

"What!?!?" Naruto exclaimed, his bowl almost falling off his lap, causing Sakura to glare at him reproachfully, not wanting to clean up a spill.

However, she nodded her head solemnly once she was sure Naruto had calmed down and rolled her eyes in exasperation, "Yeah…He wanted me as a stupid trophy wife…The nerve of that man……But long story short, he got too close and I blurted out I was taken because I had that absurd idea you suggested at lunch whirring in my head…"

Sakura pouted and placed her bowl on the small coffee table in front of the couch, crossing her arms in front of her chest as Naruto grinned, "Don't worry Sakura-chan! It'll be as easy as making Ramen and it's only for a week…Besides, it's only pretend."

"But that's just it Naruto," Sakura sighed as she stared at him, "I know I've agreed to this ploy of yours but it's going to be so hard to pretend to be something we're not…Don't you think it'll be awkward to be so openly affectionate with me…?"

Naruto shrugged as he placed his empty bowl next to Sakura's, "You're one of my best friends Sakura-chan…How can I not be affectionate towards you?"

He grinned and Sakura couldn't help but smile as she grabbed his hand and squeezed it, "Naruto…Affection towards a friend is completely different than affection towards a girlfriend…"

Naruto frowned with confusion, "How is that? I mean, I used to have a crush on you Sakura-chan."

He smirked playfully and Sakura chuckled, "Although that is a step up, we were twelve-years old then Naruto…Being in a serious relationship with someone is a lot more intimate…And if we want to fool Kimiko, Kiyoshi, and all of Konoha…Our acting has to be spot-on…"

"And how do you suppose we do that?"

"Lessons of course," Sakura answered with a mischievous grin, her viridian eyes alight causing Naruto to gulp nervously, "I have the day off tomorrow…So, we'll begin then."

"Lessons?" Naruto asked as he pouted, not at all liking the prospect of doing anything other than Shinobi Training, "What kind of Lessons? And with who?"

Sakura shrugged, "I have a few in mind…And we'll probably tell them the plan…Someone who's close to us and won't spill what we're doing…An ally."

Naruto grinned as he laughed, "How about Ero-sennin?"

"Jiraiya-san?" Sakura asked with a frown, "What kind of lessons are you thinking about?"

Naruto only laughed again, "Or we can raid Kakashi-sensei's apartment and find his Icha Icha Collection!"

"Naruto you pervert!!" Sakura screeched as she reached over to him and smacked his shoulder, causing the blonde shinobi to double over, still laughing.

"I can't believe you," Sakura sighed as she crossed her arms again and rolled her eyes, although she was inwardly laughing too, "Whatever happened to my innocent Naruto of twelve years old?"

Naruto snorted, "You mean the twelve year old Naruto who created Sexy no Jutsu?"

Sakura shook her head with disbelief, but she was still smiling. Naruto leaned back into the couch and put his hands behind his head, stretching out his legs as he gazed up at the ceiling.

"Everyone's going to be in for a big surprise when they see us as a couple," Naruto stated with a grin, "I can't wait to see the looks on their faces…Especially our friends…Too bad Sasuke-teme isn't here though…"

"It will be a shocker…Won't it?" Sakura agreed, her eyes becoming downcast as she stared at the hands on her lap.

Naruto turned his head to glance at her, worry written on his brow, "Hey…Maybe they won't be that surprised…I mean, we've known each other for years, we're on the same squad…I had a crush on you…And, it's only for a week…"

Sakura smiled softly as she connected her gaze with his, "Actually…I'll have to pretend a little longer than that…"

The boy sat up, "Why?"

Sakura chuckled, "Well, you see…Kimiko-san and Kiyoshi-san are the children of Lightning Country's Delegate…I've been assigned to escort and protect them back to their home…"

He frowned, "Alone?"

Sakura shook her head, "No, with someone else…But I'll still have to keep up the façade," She smiled, "Who knows? Maybe it'll be fun."

The self-proclaimed Hokage snorted, "Or maybe he could kidnap you and force you to be his wife."

"Don't say that!" Sakura complained as she chuckled and stood, taking the two bowls on her table and going to the kitchen to put it in the sink.

Sapphire eyes watched her movements intently, his hands unconsciously reaching out to the blanket and pillow Sakura had put out for him, "Sakura-chan…You're sure you're okay with this…?"

The kunoichi remained quiet as she arranged the bowls in the sink to make it easier for her to clean the next morning. It was late and she wanted to go to sleep, especially after such a hectic and chaotic day. Naruto continued to watch her, worried with her lack of answer to his question. Her face was partially hidden by her pink tresses, so he couldn't make any expression out after he asked the question.

"…Sakura-chan?"

"I agreed to it Naruto," Sakura answered as she finally turned to him, her expression more tired than usual, causing her best friend to frown even more with concern, "And like you said, it's not for long and maybe we'll get a kick out of it…I'm sure this'll be an event we can look back on and laugh at…"

Sakura exited the kitchen as she wiped her hands on a dish towel she had picked up next to the sink. Naruto continued to watch her intently, but he was smiling and nodding his head, excitement bubbling up in the pit of his stomach. Maybe this experience would help him with the future, when he really would have a girlfriend.

"I'm going to turn in Naruto," Sakura's stated with a tired smile, "We're waking up bright and early for our 'relationships training'."

"Alright…Good-night Sakura-chan," Naruto replied as he readied the couch for himself, "Thanks again for letting me stay over."

"No problem…And Naruto…?"

Naruto stopped his movements and arrangements to look back up, finding Sakura standing still at the entrance of her bedroom door, her emerald eyes pinning him with a hidden emotion, an almost sadness lingering in those depths, causing his frown to return as he sat up straighter to look her directly in those expressive eyes, ready to do anything for her.

"Yeah?"

She smiled a weak smile, the sadness not directed at Naruto, but still there, "…You're my first boyfriend…So, don't disappoint me."

She gave off a wider smile, which almost seemed forced to Naruto, but he knew that she was trying for him. He returned her smile with a grin and nodded his head.

"I won't let you down Sakura-chan!" He declared, "I'll be a very good boyfriend to you, believe it!"

This time, a genuine smile did grace her features and she chuckled as she entered her room, her soft reply easily caught by Naruto's sensitive hearing, "I don't doubt that Naruto."

The young man grinned to himself as he situated his body into a more comfortable position, reaching over his head to turn off the lamp on the table beside the couch which plunged the entire room into darkness. And as his ocean-blue eyes adjusted to the lack of lighting, Naruto couldn't help but analyze Sakura's underlying sadness. He had known her for many years now and understood exactly what she was feeling.

He knew she still loved Uchiha Sasuke, their comrade and best friend of the famed Team Seven. He knew that she denied that emotion and her feelings several times due to the fear of rejection or loss of friendship. And he felt guilty of having the privilege to be his precious Sakura-chan's first and fake boyfriend. He knew she deserved much better, but the plan had already been put into motion, the moment he suggested it, and she backed it up.

But perhaps he could turn it all around.

Sakura would be gone by the end of the week with the Lightning Delegates, Kiyoshi, and Kimiko. With Sakura gone, everyone in Konoha would still believe that she and Naruto are still a couple. They would only break up once Kimiko and Kiyoshi were gone and Sakura was back in Konoha to help with the break up plan which meant, technically, that when Sasuke returned from his Mission, Sakura would still be at Lightning Country and Konoha would probably blurt out the newest gossip of 'Naruto and Sakura'. Sasuke would hear those rumors, become insanely jealous, and when Sakura returns, he'd take her in a heartbeat.

Okay, so it was a little far-fetched.

However, the number one prankster of Konohagakure no Sato would be there to push the plan along and maybe the rest of the Rookie 9 could help out too. Sakura would be so surprised and happy with Sasuke's jealousy and 'proclamations of love' when she returned from Lightning, that Naruto would make sure that it was a 'gift' for helping him out with his 'Kimiko Problem'.

'The plan is fool-proof!' Naruto thought with glee as he rubbed his hands together with excitement, 'Don't worry Sakura-chan, I'll take care of everything!'

"Naruto…I'm losing the feeling of my hand," Sakura grimaced as she and the blonde-shinobi walked casually through the busy streets of Konoha, already catching the curious stares of the early-riser civilians of the Village, "Relax why don't you…?"

Naruto only remained quiet; his grip on her hand only loosening a fraction as his nervous, deep blue eyes darted back and forth, anxiously waiting to see the deep-red curls of his infatuated-stalker. His heart was beating in his chest furiously as he scanned his surroundings with care, wondering again and again why he and Sakura were walking in broad daylight when he could be mauled at any given moment.

"Naruto…" Sakura's soft voice entered into his hazy mind of fearful anxiety, "You need to calm down…When you're walking like that with me, you're making it seem like I'm taking you to get your check-up at the Hospital…Act boyfriend material…"

Naruto frowned a bit nervously as he looked down at Sakura's pink head, the young woman giving a passing villager a polite smile, "Here? Now Sakura-chan? Maybe…maybe this was a crazy idea after all…"

"You can't back down now, Naruto," Sakura admonished as she rolled her eyes, "Besides this was your idea and Kiyoshi-san already thinks we're together now…And if we want this plan to work, all of Konoha needs to see us and believe us to be a serious couple."

To make a point, Sakura released Naruto's grip off her hand and casually, but with a well-acted flirtatious and loving smile and giggle, she linked her arm around his and pulled the appendage close to her chest, leaning her head against her shoulder and giving a melodious laugh to catch others' attention. Naruto, surprised by her action, as well as anyone else who caught the deed, continued to walk stiffly with a blush on his cheeks and wider, even more fearful, blue eyes. Although he had been excited and pumped up for this challenge the night before, he was so new to such interactions, and with Sakura no less, that he didn't know what the hell to do.

"Relax Naruto," Sakura whispered fiercely as she remained cheery to those who looked at them from afar, "Act chivalrous or something!"

"W-what?" The boy stuttered.

"Just dig deep down and pretend you still have a crush on me from when we were twelve," Sakura answered softly, followed by a loud giggle as she rubbed her forehead against his arm, acting as if she laughed at something he supposedly said, "Did you ever think about any dates you would have taken me on and what you would have done…?"

"Uh…"

The kunoichi frowned into his arm and stealthily pinched him, causing him to yelp and for others to watch in forms of amusement, shock, wonder, and disbelief. Naruto pouted as he looked down on her, a part of him wanting to rub his abused arm, but Sakura had a firm hold on it. However, Sakura took the opportunity of his pouting and looked up at him, giving him an apologetic smile visible to those watching, although her eyes clearly told him to play-along, before she took up his hand and brushed her lips against his knuckles, a chaste kiss of regret in the eyes of others.

Naruto almost felt his heart stop beating as he tried to keep the color in his face and his eyes from widening too much with his own shock. Sakura was biting her lower lip, looking passed Naruto as she listened to the gasps and whispers around her. She then locked eyes with her best friend and tried to smile as lovingly intimate as she could, despite how fake it was, her green eyes demanding he do the same.

After a few moments, Naruto managed a strain smirk, his eyes softening as he remembered the time he had a crush on Sakura and the moments she would help him and risk her life to save him. In a gesture of mostly gratitude, for being there for him, for protecting him, for pretending to do this for him, Naruto raised her hand with the same one she kissed and repeated her motion, his lips passing over her knuckles, blue eyes almost alight with mischief as Sakura's expression flickered to surprise before she smiled too.

'Maybe this plan will work after all…'

And the eavesdropping people watching them, unaware of their plan, jumped to their own conclusions.

Only couples would make gestures like that.

The Hidden Leaf Villagers were immediately in an uproar of gossip.

Mission: Spread The News – Completed.

"Oh Kami, you two actually took my joke to heart!?" The female laughed hysterically as she clutched at her stomach, her sides hurting as she tried her very hardest to control herself, only to fail miserably, "This is priceless!!"

"It's not that funny," Naruto grumbled as he sat on the carpeted floor of the female's apartment, his legs crossed, elbow resting on his thigh, and hand supporting his cheek.

Imagine Yamanaka Ino's surprise when she opened her apartment door, only to find two blushing, highly-respected shinobi on her doorstep, with linked arms, and crowds of people behind them, whispering frantically as they pointed and stared. Baffled at first, the blonde-kunoichi had ushered her friends inside, only to burst into fits of laughter and giggles when Sakura finally explained their current situation. Naruto assumed that because Ino was one of Sakura's best friends, they would be fine and in good hands, but after seeing the Mind-User's reaction after the passed…ten minutes, he was having serious second thoughts.

He turned his half-pouting, half-frowning face to his newly acquired girlfriend, who was rolling her eyes in exasperation while sitting on the couch, "Did it have to be her, of all people?"

Sakura shrugged, ignoring the giggles escaping from the female sitting in her favorite armchair, "She's trusting enough…And besides, she's an expert at acting," The pink-haired Medic shot the girl a dry look, "Especially when it comes to her relationships with men."

"Hey!" The blonde, blue-eyed woman protested, her laughter immediately gone, "I resent that…I am completely honest with Shikamaru-kun!"

"Only because you actually love this guy," Sakura pointed out with a grin, causing the female to blush deeply as she scowled and crossed her arms.

"Well, that's beside the point!" She countered as she flipped her golden locks over one shoulder, her expression showing clear interest as she leaned forward in her seat, "So, you're now a loving couple…Naruto and Sakura…I suppose it has a certain ring to it."

"We're only pretending," Sakura explained with another exasperated sigh, "What you said near the elevators may have been a small part as to how we got into this mess, but Naruto and I are only doing this until Kiyoshi-san and Kimiko-san are back in Lightning Country…With this plan, they'll stay off our backs…Their parents are very old-fashioned and they wouldn't want their children pursuing potential spouses that are already taken…It's dishonorable and disrespectful."

"Who cares about that?" The blonde-kunoichi dismissed as she waved her hand, "I've seen Kiyoshi-san and I must say, he looks like quite the catch…Maybe you should give him a chance."

Naruto frowned and Sakura growled, "Give a bastard like him a chance? No! He may be handsome but he's so…so ARROGANT!"

"Hmm," Ino stated thoughtfully as she tapped her chin, "Reminds me of someone I know…Like a certain…Uchiha…"

The Medic scowled as she crossed her arms over her chest, Naruto looking back and forth between the two females, silent, "Sasuke-kun is completely different from that…vile man!"

"Oh right," Her friend exclaimed with a bright smile, "They are different! Kiyoshi-san actually shows his interest towards you!"

Sakura's glare darkened, "Ino-pig…"

The blonde smirked lightly, "Forehead Girl…"

"Alright," Naruto stated nervously, feeling the tension fill the room, "I thought we had lessons to take…We're not here to talk about Kiyoshi and Sasuke-teme."

Ino smiled sweetly once more in Sakura's direction before she grinned at Naruto, her grey-blue eyes filled with somewhat evil intentions that caused shivers to crawl up the male's spine, "Naruto is right…We'll finish this later Forehead Girl…We've got a lot of work ahead of us…"

Sakura shot Ino one last glare, before she panned her own gaze to land on Naruto, a small smirk forming on her lips, causing Naruto to feel even more trapped than ever, "…I believe you're right Ino-pig…A lot of work is ahead of us…"

Naruto gulped, his body trying to shrink into the carpet under the two females' intense stares.

"I'm sure I don't need…that much work…" He stated nervously, "Right…?"

"Well…That was easier than I thought it would be…"

The male who had spoken threw up a thick scroll and caught it effortlessly into his hand, repeating the action a few more times before putting it into the safe confines of his back pouch beside the latest edition of Icha Icha Paradise: Make-Out Tactics. The dark mask covering the bottom half of the man's face shifted slightly as his one visible eye crinkled, his expression clearly showing he was smiling despite the obscurity of his face. One of his hands came up and combed through his unruly silver hair before he adjusted the Hidden Leaf Headband over his left eye.

"We completed this Mission an entire week earlier than expected," Another male stated, "These enemies seemed to be overestimated and their choice of hiding lacked any security…"

The boy who spoke was looking over the Rain Country with furrowed brows, the dark sunglasses and hood of his jacket covering up any expression that his teammates could try to decipher. Swarms of insects were flying around his form, silent as they entered into the dark confines of his jacket.

"We are in a war Shino-kun…" A soft, timid voice replied, "Perhaps they are in short supply of security so they can recruit for an army…"

"But why do you think those Ninja would take it to Rain Country of all places? Who would want that scroll, Hinata?" Shino inquired as he turned his face to stare at the only female of the group, dressed in her oversized jacket and was shyly combing her fingers through her long, dark blue hair, a new habit evolved from her forefinger twiddling.

The female chose to remain silent, her opalescent eyes gazing out at Rain Country with a confused and worried expression. The man with the masked-face was also quiet as he gazed at the Squad Eight comrades, before his own stare panned over the same scenery the two were looking so intently at as well.

"This scroll was originally supposed to be delivered to Snow Country…To Kazahana Koyuki," The man informed, Shino and Hinata casting the older man an inquiring gaze.

"What do you supposed that means, Kakashi-sempai?"

"It means the enemy is trying to sabotage alliances…" A dark, masculine voice supplied a few feet away.

Three pairs of eyes turned away from the landscape of grey skies and dark, famished lands, only to land on a figure standing tall and confident with his back to them. His dark hair was cropped up at an odd angle and he wore the customary uniform of a Hidden Leaf Jounin Shinobi. A sword was strapped to the back of his belt and the white and red of the famed paper fan of the Uchiha stood out against the black of the sleeves under his olive-green flak-jacket.

"Sabotage, Sasuke-san?" Hinata asked, her words wavering only slightly.

The man turned his head slightly, dark, obsidian eyes pericing through theirs as he frowned deeply, "I'm sure the Hokage suspects this…We should return to Konoha…She should know that the Rain Ninja play a bigger part in this war than we thought…"

Kakashi sighed as he closed his visible eye, his right hand coming up to turn on the radio link connected to his ear, "Sasuke is right…It's best we return home…If I'm not mistaken, the Lightning Delegates are in Konoha now making negotiations and if alliances are indeed at stake, the candidates chosen to protect those Delegates back to Lightning will be in more danger than we realized…"

The four Ninja nodded and immediately disappeared in a whirl of green leaves, making haste, jumping from tree to tree towards the South where they knew their Home Village lay.

"Kakashi-san," Shino acknowledged, earning a glance from the Copy-Cat Ninja, "…May I ask who it is the Hokage has assigned to protect and escort the Lightning Delegates back to their country…?"

The older man remained silent, lavender and coal eyes sliding over to him, expecting an answer as well, watching as he sighed and shook his head, "The Lightning Delegates are still new to our alliance, which make them weary still…Mistrustful even…They would want protection for both safety and trust themselves and from shinobi that can be completely relied upon…"

"Who?" Sasuke asked again, with an almost harder edge.

Kakashi glanced at the Uchiha Avenger and frowned, "…Sakura and Naruto…"

If anything, the group's pace had quickened drastically.

A/N: Yay!! Third Chapter up!!! Sorry for the wait…School sucks sometimes. Anyways, hope you liked it, I was really aiming for the humor and semi-seriousness of this fic. And don't worry SasuSaku lovers, this is still SasuSaku even if it did seem like NaruSaku…But they're pretending and trying to get into a character where they would be believable to Kimiko and Kiyoshi. Anyways, hope you liked and I can't wait to hear your feedback!!!!! Thanks so much everyone!!!!

Disclaimer: oh I wish…

Next Chapter: Debuting Next Week! Naruto takes lessons and Sasuke and Hinata are in for a BIG SURPRISE!!! Stay Tuned!!!!

ReViEw PlEaSe!!!!!

Luvinukag83

(Soon To Be Known As Len83)

Note: And Naruto Fans, I have a Naruto Horror Fiction Out and another Naruto, Inuyasha, Fushigi Yuugi Crossover Fiction Game Show Style with Comedy/Humor and Romance!!!!!! It's Called: How Well Do You Know Your Soul Mate?! With Pairings Like: Sasuke/Sakura; Naruto/Hinata; Ino/Shikamaru; Neji/Tenten; Inuyasha/Kagome; Miroku/Sango; Kagura/Sesshoumaru/Rin; and Miaka/Tamahome! Hope you check it out!!!!