CHAPTER CORRECTED THANKS TO OfficialNyl FOR HER BETA READING WORK ON IT!

For the majority of the review, I continue to post without waiting. I hope you will like it anyway. You could always read it again after the beta-reader corrected it. Once a chapter is corrected, it will edit and a mention CORRECTED will be add at the beginning of the chapter. At the end when all my chapter will be corrected. I will write it in the resume of the story.

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Chap 4: Investigation

Strangely, she had never slept as good as that night. She smiled, feeling the rays of light passing through the window, and suddenly remembered in whose arms she had fallen asleep in. She was still carefully nestled in Naruto's arms, her back against his bare torso, and his slow breathing raising his chest and making his skin touch her. There was something highly disturbing in the comfort she was feeling; something in his warmth, in his contact, in the softness of his embrace. She was now completely awake and aware of everything about him. Even worse, she realized that her body appreciated this closeness with him... with Naruto of all people!

More abruptly than Hana would have done, she leaped from the bed and into the bathroom. Her brisk movement pulled him out of his slumber. Naruto cracked open an eye to see Sakura's spot in the bed empty. He smiled to himself; even if he didn't wake up with her, it had been still wonderful to fall asleep holding her. He chuckled silently with a foxy smile while stretching in bed. I should try again! This mission is the best mission of all time!

She felt petrified, pushing her back against the bathroom door for support. This mission is the worst mission ever! She inhaled deeply to calm her emotions. They were on a mission. All of it was just an act. It was not her emotions that she felt, but Hana's emotions. She just got confused because she was too immersed in her role. Sakura strengthened her resolve and straightened up. A good shower should help her go back in her right mind.

When she finally emerged from the shower she found Naruto at the door talking to a servant. As her brain registered the scene in front of her, her eyes shined with killer intent. Sakura walked towards Naruto, ready to slam the damned door shut to avoid having this lousy woman drool over him.

The servant, who was daydreaming a few seconds ago at the sight of the young master clad only in his underwear, trembled at the glare his wife gave her. Suddenly she passed from heaven to hell; from blissfulness to a prey ready to be killed by a dangerous predator. Involuntary she shrieked in fear and the oblivious blond's attention was stolen by the robe wearing woman. A wide smile blossomed on his face making him look even more handsome. What a shame that he is married! the servant thought. Her eyes darted to the floor, sensing his wife's murderous glare growing in intensity.

Naruto happily welcomed his favorite person, "Good morning my love! This person came to help you dress up..." pushing his luck with his role further, he held her tight against him and kissed her on the hair.

Sakura stiffened a bit forgetting suddenly the other woman. Little pervert! Don't over-do your role! The calming effect of the cold shower evaporated from her as her skin heated up under his touch and her heart began beating erratically.

The servant looked envious at the couple; they were the perfect picture of a happy couple, both blushing like two teenagers in love. It must be nice to be loved like that... The only love she knew was the rough way her master forced himself on her. It must be so nice to have a husband like him... Without realizing it, her eyes went back to hungrily look at him, his handsome face with such striking blue eyes, a smile so bright that he could warm the coldest heart on Earth, and a body so attractive that she felt an erotic fixation take over her. She came back to Earth as the door was slammed in her face. She blinked, and was even more surprised when the blond opened the door again, smiling apologetically.

"Please, excuse my wife, she is a little moody in the morning..." he told her, opening the door a little bit more to let her enter. She hesitated to step in as his wife looked truly frightening at that point. "Take good care of Hana!" He released the woman in his arm to go to the bathroom and the servant trembled, aware of the danger of being in this powerful, angry woman's presence.

Sakura huffed in frustration from having to let that lousy servant dress her. She pulled out a kimono from her luggage and drop it on the bed. The woman closed the door, and took care of the precious garment while the young mistress abandoned her robe to purposefully put on some very sexy underwear. The young servant couldn't keep herself from stealing a look at the Lady's form. To her shock, the young mistress' body was not like those of the other women from the house, or even hers. Her whole body was toned! She was not bulky or angled, in fact it was quite the opposite, she was all lithe and graceful. Subconsciously the young servant compared her own body to the Lady's lithe form, succeeding only in disappointing herself with her thin angles and boyish figure. Sakura lifted an eyebrow questioningly "Will you dress me or are you here just to stare at me and my husband?" Sakura was still quite pissed off. She didn't like how this woman had kept drooling over her idiot teammate. It was wrong! The woman rushed submissively around her, scared of being further scolded by the unhappy lady, helping her into the sophisticate clothing.

Naruto closed the door of the bathroom and released a shuddered breath. He looked down at the snake that was beginning to rise in his underwear. He was overly sensitive to her; the smallest contact of her skin on his was awakening some very troubling and dangerous desires. He had to take care of it or he was sure that the problem at hand would continue popping up at the tiniest interaction. He disrobed, stepped into the shower and let the warm water splash over him. His hand automatically found the growing flesh. He closed his eyes and imagined that it was a certain someone else's hand, and not his own. With the still prominent thoughts of a night spent wrapped around her, his task was easily sped up. He bit his lips to suppress his light moan, and let his head fall against the wall as he regained his senses.

With his eyes still closed, he heard a mocking voice in enter his mind. "Could you not man up, Kit?"

Naruto appeared in front of the demon fox, "You don't understand! I can't just force myself on her!" He screamed angrily.

Kuruma tilted his head with curiosity "Why not?"

Naruto blushed and stuttered "B-Because... Because we are just faking for the mission." The blond seemed to be in pain and conflict with himself, "As long as I don't really touch her, I can enjoy the illusion of being with her without offending her." His gaze slipped to the floor, seemingly ashamed at his admission.

The demon kept staring at the human who was struggling with doubt and asked him the most evident question that came to him, "What told you that she would not like you?"

Naruto's head shot up, "She'll never love me. She loves Sasuke." His eyes were holding so much hurt and certainty at his statement. To the legendary beast, Naruto once again looked like the small child who was suffering from loneliness. The giant paw came forward, patting his head in a comforting gesture while looking away as the blond composed himself and put on a brave front. "I'm fine Kurama. It's not news to me... I am already happy with what I have." He smiled more sincerely, "I got to go or she'll realize that I am doing more than just showering... and stop spying on me in my private moments!" he jibbed at the fox, back to his cocky self.

The tailed beast didn't insist on his point; his container was a stubborn person, be it for the better or worse. Could he not see that he was able to change the heart of anyone? The kid had so much love to give that he had been able to turn any foe into a friend, tailed beasts included, but he didn't know how to receive love himself.

Naruto came out of the bathroom with just a towel around his waist and another on his head to dry his hair. He didn't have the chance to take more than a single step into the main room before he was scolded and met with a faceful of garments which had been haphazardly thrown at him. "Don't you dare go parading around naked in front of girls!" Sakura screamed indignantly at his behavior. Does this boy have no modesty? Doesn't he understand that it's wrong to walk around half naked in front of everyone as he clearly doesn't have a child's body anymore? I should have a serious discussion with him soon! His attitude is dangerous for himself, and for the hearts of innocent maiden!

He freed his face from the bundle of clothes and looked at her confused. "Huh?" He gulped, feeling as though a demonic aura was emanating from her. Her voice seemed to come from Satan itself, waking within him his sense of self-preservation.

"Go be decent !" She growled, pointing to the bathroom to indicate where he should escape to, and he vanished. Talking back in this type of situation was never a safe move. Sakura glanced behind her shoulder at the nose bleeding servant, and the woman yelped in fear. "Leave us alone!" she ordered coldly. The woman bowed deeply and flew away in a blink of an eye. Sakura hid her face in her hand. He was the only one to always break her composed mask, but this time it was even worse. She felt confused, as if she had fallen into a vortex of mixed emotions. Her body treacherously worked her up into a fit, and she didn't know what to think anymore. Everything she had always believed was crumbling down like a sand castle. This mission was dangerous for her sanity...

Naruto poked his head around the bathroom door before fully leaving the small sanctuary. Sakura was fixing her hair into a bun, and seemed to be calmer than she was before. He emerged carefully, his body tensed incase he needed to dodge a random flying object. "Hana..." he tried, hoping that invoking her role keep him safe from her wrath. She turned her head towards him, a perfect lady-like expression. He forget what he even wanted to tell her. She was so gorgeous. She had chosen a delicate pale blue Kimono with pale pink flowers with gold accents floating down the material as her wardrobe of the day. Her face was painted perfectly, making her look like a precious doll; the black around her eyes emphasized her jade eyes, and her pouty red lips looked so inviting... His throat went dry and his heartbeat increased. He stopped everything, his eyes stuck on her captivating appearance.

"I'm glad you're finally decent, my dear husband" Sakura told him in a very Hana-like tone, standing up after fixing her last brooch in her hair.

She walked towards him, her steps light and her movements fluid, as though she were floating. Naruto could have sworn he was dreaming. She looped her arms around his neck, making him lean toward her. For a second he hoped that she might kiss him. But his hopes were dashed as her lips pressed to his ear, and she whispered. "What did your clone found yesterday?" She couldn't continue this game for too long, it was too dangerous. They have to find out the necessary information, and wrap up the mission fast.

He sighed inwardly, knowing that he shouldn't have dared hope she would reciprocate his feelings. He composed himself and murmured out his answer, "There's nothing in the house... I searched his office and nothing compromising was there... but in sage mode, I found a place in the village where powerful chakras were gathering last night. I couldn't investigate 'cause I had to dispel my clone, someone almost found it". She threaded her fingers through his hair lightly, and he instinctively pulled her closer into his chest. He wished so much that it was not just an act. His body enjoyed the contact, while his heart was bleeding silently.

"We will need to investigate that. If nothing is here, we'll have to go for a small sight-seeing venture in the village today." Sakura informed him before separating herself and latched her arm gently in his. She blamed the light headedness she experienced on her obi being tied too tightly, but deep down she knew that the obi wasn't entirely to blame.

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After the breakfast they played the perfect couple, taking a small walk together in the garden. Naruto held Sakura in the crook of his arm, and Sakura grasped him in return. She was the epitome of refinement and submission, like the perfect trophy wife. She kept her senses alert, despite her relaxed appearance, and continually kept tabs on everything in the space around them. Their host had left them to meet with some visitor for a private meeting, giving the couple some private time. The couple spotted their host and his visitors in the more isolated part of the mansion where the Lord's office was.

Without exchanging a word, they sat close together on a bench near a pond. Sakura caressed Naruto's cheek, turning his head toward her. He looked around to check if they were being observed, and when he noted that the garden was free of onlookers, he gave an imperceptible nod to his companion. Her eyes shined determinedly, and she lifted her fan to hide a supposed kiss from view.

Her mouth approached him, and his hand came up to tenderly caress the gracious nape of her neck to further the act, his eyes returning her intense stare. The situation should never have escaped her control, but his touch sent a jolt of electricity through her skin. Involuntarily, she shivered and her gaze lost focus, leaving her drowning in his lagoon blue eyes. Time suspended itself, stretching indefinitely onwards. There was peace in his eyes, and she was pulled towards him as though by a magnetic attraction. She was less than an inch from his lips when she realized what she was doing. Subtly, she pivoted to bite her thumb, and let her hand leave his face to touch the bench to make a slug summoning. A tiny slug popped up, and Sakura rapidly backed away, simulating a shy attitude with her fan still covering her face to ask her slug to spy for them in the lord's office.

Naruto's hand fell to his side after Sakura retreated, and he closed his eyes to conceal his dismay at not receiving a kiss. Shaken to the core, he felt frustrated. It was so hard for a man that carried his heart on his sleeve to hide his emotions, but he still breathed deeply to maintain a composed mask while she was discretely giving her instructions to her summon.

The summon left, and for few more seconds they stayed silent, neither one daring to look at the other. Awkwardness settled in like a natural companion between the two ninja. Sakura still felt troubled to have truly wanted to kiss him; assuming Sakura was faking her sincerity in their intimate actions, Naruto started to feel depressed. Even if he kept telling his heart that it was just an illusion of love, he still hoped that she would reciprocate his feelings. It's all a lie, just a bittersweet lie. He leaned toward her, pretending to kiss her neck. Breathing in her delicately scented skin was tantalizing to him. Even if it hurts, I can't stop myself from wanting more. "Let's go out to investigate." He was so close that his lips lightly brushed her skin as he talked. She inwardly thanked the presence of her fan, using the object to hide her increasing blush at the sensations he created within her. She nodded in reply, and accepted the hand he offered to help her up.

They left the mansion hand in hand, Naruto grateful for every minute of intimacy he could get. Just the warmth of her hand in his was making his heart joyfully beat in his chest. Happiness was as simple as that for him, just touching her was enough. They walked through the village like a couple doing some sight-seeing. They stopped at a few shops, successfully convincing the merchants of their roles with Naruto pretending to be the doting husband, looking to buy a trinket for his wife. Sakura would look at a brooch or a kimono, and Naruto would ask the man to search for another item that he believed she might like. As soon as the vendor was busy, they would drop a slug or frog to spy for them. Their game continued for two more days, casually collecting information on the village from their summoned spies.

At night it was easy to fall into a routine. They would enter their room, Naruto would send out a clone, and they would snuggle together in bed. While in each other's arms, they would discuss their observations from the day discretely, and plan their strategy for the following day. If Naruto's clone encountered any problems, he would dispel himself in an effort to keep the ninja's identities secret. In the morning the blond would share the knowledge gained from his clone with his pink haired companion. The two believed this was the best plan of action, who would guess that two people who were being thoroughly watched were actually investigating at the same time? The only problem was the increasing proximity they shared, and the growing feeling that this proximity induced.

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