Kakashi surveyed the newcomer. Even though the mask hid his face, Kakashi knew it was still possible to unravel the identity of this mysterious ANBU. The Elders had taken him too lightly and that was what amazed Kakashi the most. He was not dumb; he knew that Sasuke was being followed by ANBU since the massacre. He almost committed the crime of physically harming one some years back when he spotted a suspicious profile lurking outside of Sasuke's window. Of course, when he was about to deal a finishing blow at the astonished ninja, he was hauled away by the ANBU's colleague and was later given an earful by the Hokage. Back then, Sarutobi-sama had even explained the need to keep Sasuke under surveillance but should the teen be subjected to the same treatment now that he was older? Nobody cared about Sasuke's rights as a free citizen of Konoha.

And currently, here stood another high blood pressure inducing man.

"Do I know you?" Kakashi enquired unemotionally. The mask was new even to Kakashi and a quick whiff told him that the guy was not one of those idiots he had caught before. The ANBU halted several meters away, clearly being uncomfortable when he was at a close distance with the intimidating Copy Ninja. Sakura and Naruto sized the ANBU up and stood in front of Sasuke, blocking Aoi from the lying teen.

"Kakashi-san, I'm sure you've heard of the duties."

"You don't have to keep watch when Sasuke is training. There are other ninjas surrounding him."

"You know that I can't divulge when and why we are here. Sasuke is my charge and I have a Hokage to answer to."

"No you don't, ANBU," Kakashi retorted. His gray eyes flickered briefly to take in the sturdy figure before him. "You don't have your colleagues with you today."

"This may be rude, but that is none of your concern, Kakashi-san."

Kakashi had long retired from the lines of the elite assassins. But still, his reputation held some roots in the organisation up to this day. That fact alone commanded some respect from the current members.

"Okay, it isn't. But you don't have to lie about the part where Tsunade-sama is answerable to your… schedule."

Kakashi knew it was the Elders behind the arrangement.

"I didn't. It's true."

Kakashi lifted his silver brows. The man had some guts to hide the truth. Most of the ANBU knew that Kakashi was not totally clueless about Sasuke's case. Was the guy new?

Aoi adjusted his glove and nodded curtly at Kakashi, hinting his desire to end the unfriendly conversation. He walked over to Sasuke and took him in his arms. Sakura and Naruto protested, lunging at the ANBU but succeeded in grasping thin air when Aoi formed a single hand seal and vanished in a flurry of green leaves. Kakashi left his students gaping, ignoring their calls and cries as he trotted to the other end of the training grounds.

Something was not right.

When the ANBU adjusted his gloves, Kakashi caught a questionable body mark on the man's wrist. ANBU were not supposed to have any other tattoos besides the one inked indelibly on their left upper arm; it would give their distinctiveness as an individual away. That person must have been a retiree like Kakashi but he had long surrendered in keeping count of those following his tracks, backing down from the rank for some valid reasons.

Surely the man had some dignity to stop donning ANBU outfit after he forfeited his duty…

The tattoo… he had seen it somewhere.

No matter who he was, if Kakashi did not know the person, he would not rest easy. And currently, one of his students was stuck with that stranger. Something bad just had to happen each day…

--

"Sasuke?"

"Unh… what?"

"It's okay now. Relax yourself."

Aoi had carefully teleported them to a particularly bushy area of the grounds where the probability of them being spied upon or discovered was low. He was cradling the quivering boy in his laps, one arm looped below Sasuke's knees while the other securing him in a sitting position by the shoulder. Sasuke was cupping his erection with both hands, his body tilted at an angle towards Aoi.

"Hey, you're scaring me Sasuke. Are you okay?"

The boy spoke agitatedly, "No. I feel like I'm pissing in my pants."

The edge of Aoi's lips curled upwards in a playful smirk. He placed his hand over Sasuke's.

"Hey, you like it when I do this?" Aoi moved his hands, at the same while moving Sasuke's with the same rhythmic massage. The younger boy thrashed weakly, feeling his determination crumbling. "Can you feel it? You're touching yourself."

Sasuke flushed at the words. He could feel the heat radiating from his shorts. More warmness dripped down his thighs.

"Damn… I can't take it anymore…"

"Why do you have to torture yourself? Haven't I taught you how to get this over with?"

Aoi slapped Sasuke's hands away. When they fell to his sides, Aoi saw the wetness staining the coarse fabric. Pulling the zip down its track for the second time today, the rigid manhood stood up in all its glory, dripping heavily from its tip.

"Hello again."

"Stop saying those stuff!"

Aoi took the balls in one hand, rubbing them carelessly. More whitish liquid leaked out.

"Sasuke, don't hold it in."

"Shit – stop it you sick pervert!"

"Don't want to."

Aoi dunked his head into Sasuke's dark hair, savouring the closeness he shared with the boy. Without a word of caution, he gripped the testicles and hot, pearly shots of semen blasted out in five, powerful succession. Sasuke tensed greatly, his body curved as the tension torturing him for so long was eased so abruptly. When he collapsed into Aoi's arms – fatigue catching up – darkness threatened to claim his consciousness and he forced himself to stay awake. Aoi saw the inconsistent dilation of the dark irises and knew Sasuke was about to pass out. He brushed the stray bristles sticking to the teen's forehead and propped the body up with ease.

"Sasuke, bear with it for a while. At least until I get you home."

"Home…? Damn… does it have to be this tiring…?" he slurred.

"Well, with that fantastic – okay, I'll shut up," Aoi ended at Sasuke's glare.

So Sasuke did not like people talk dirty to him.

This time, Aoi had taken the initiative of bringing a packet of tissue paper in his back pocket. He made quick job of the Sasuke's mess, both on his stomach and on his now flaccid penis before taking the trouble to rearrange the younger man's disarrayed clothes. Sasuke allowed the ministration and that was only because he was too worn-out to move a limb.

Aoi felt like he was Sasuke's temporary babysitter throughout the few hours he spent with the boy.

"Listen, if you're not against it, I can carry you home," the ANBU offered. "Ichi-sama may deduct my salary for all I know – that isn't so bad – so if you don't mind –"

"I can go back fine by myself," Sasuke interrupted. He sat up independently and clinched his knee as he got to his feet.

"Can you stand now?"

Sasuke nodded. He garbled a thank you much to Aoi's surprise and trampled on the tall grasses to head home. He was in serious need of a long, warm bath.

--

"I heard it's a pretty decent bar, Kakashi."

"Hmm? Why do we have to visit a bar today? Can't we go to the canteen like usual?"

Asuma and Kakashi were strolling leisurely along a dusty Konoha lane, making their way towards the outskirt of the village. The latter seldom come here; his "many hobbies" during his time off were usually carried out either at home, in town or by a scenic glade. He would spend some quality moment with his friends and colleagues in the lounge area of the shinobi headquarters because it would be convenient for the Hokage to contact them. Today though, Asuma planned something different; he was taking Kakashi to a new bar even Kakashi had yet to hear of. Since Kakashi knew Genma who, sequentially, knew every local pub and entertainment center in the village, that was saying a lot.

"Asuma, don't you think it'll be better if we stick around the quarters? Someone might call for us."

"Nah... It's just for a while. I want to check out this new place."

"Who told you about it?"

"Not sure. Heard from it somewhere I guess."

Kakashi sighed. For the sake of friendship, he gave in to Asuma's will and followed the older man towards who-knows-where. Just when he wanted to say he had had enough and would rather retire home, the straw roof of a building appeared from around the corner. The buzzes of human conversation were getting louder and more activities were seen around this area.

"We're here it seems."

"Hmm…" Kakashi wondered loudly as he watched a couple of villagers swaying haphazardly by the brick way holding bottles of sake in their hands.

"Asuma, I didn't know such place appeal to you."

"Err, I didn't know about this."

Asuma had gotten his news from someone who did not bother telling the Jonin that the bar was a haven for drunkards.

"But it's not the drunk that's bothering me."

Asuma glanced swiftly at his companion. Of course; if Kakashi was easily bothered by those kinds of people, he would have severed ties with Genma and company. "Then what is?"

"… That."

Kakashi pointed at a couple of men hunched in a corner who were almost hidden by a stack of wooden crates. Asuma focused his eyes and gawped in horror when he saw them both making out passionately, caressing each other's body. When the one above pushed his hand up the other's shirt, Asuma looked away and did a 180 degree turn on his heels.

"We're out of here."

Kakashi merely replaced his hands in his pocket and stared jadedly at the pub.

"Now that we're already here, don't you want to enter?"

"Very funny, Kakashi. I know my mistake. Sorry for not – Kakashi?"

The younger Jonin was eyeing the banner strung above the main entrance. It billowed as it caught wind but what was painted on the cloth attracted Kakashi's attention.

"Hey, Kakashi? Are you listening?"

Asuma tapped on his shoulder, bringing reality back to the silent man.

"Can we go?" Asuma asked carefully. "Kurenai will kill me if she saw me here."

The silver haired man allowed himself to be steered away as the image of the bar's logo replayed in his mind. He had seen that. No wonder it looked so familiar; the tattoo on the ANBU's wrist was the exact copy of the motive! The bar… it was no common bar. All of the clients walked out in pairs and they were all male.

A gay bar… in Konoha… who had issued the license?

Something shrewd had happened behind the scene but that was not his problem to meddle with.

Sasuke was what that concerned him. He did not want to think of the possible ways for Sasuke gaining entry into a bar restricted to adults aged 18 and above; he did not want to know what Sasuke did in the bar and he certainly had no rights to poke into Sasuke's relationship with the ANBU.

Since the ANBU was not below the Hokage, he was legally a free dweller of Konoha. He did not break any rules by serving the bar – unless it was proven that the bar was built on an illicit deed – so the police forces could not take action.

It also meant Kakashi could not extort any information from him.

"Kakashi," Asuma called. He turned to his friend and nodded, signaling that he was listening. "Something bothering you?"

At this, the silver haired man laughed. "Funny you should ask. I was just wondering if I can quit my job as a teacher."

Asuma joined in the laughter as well, clapping Kakashi heartily on his back. "You're getting funnier by the second, mate."

--

It was early in the evening, roughly about four. The sun was still blazing almightily in the sky like nobody's business. And Sasuke plodded wearily with the enticing soothing bath water pervading his mind. But before he jumped into the water, he would have to unload himself of the burden. In fact, since morning it was all that he could think of. Sasuke mentally slapped himself when he remembered Naruto's apologise and the fact that he had yet to explain the situation to his friend. Sakura too, she looked dead worried back at the training ground. He was not one for a heart-to-heart talk, but at least he should be telling them that he was fine. Or he could simply strut past them as act as blasé as usual.

They would know that he was back to normal.

Sasuke reached out for the fence, stopping for a breather. He had ejaculated three times already in seven hours… was that number outrageous? This was his first after all. His Uchiha stamina would give way anytime soon; he could feel his body losing senses at an irregular interval. And right now, he was experiencing one of that despairing seconds.

Sasuke leant against the wall, one hand covering his pelvic region while the other tangled in his hair, pushing the curtain of bangs out of his face. He was sure before the day ended he would have left his markings at every corner of Konoha. If only he could stay home and put.

Ragged breaths escaped his cracked lips. Oh yes, he was going to mark Konoha with his sperms.

Sasuke looked around. The street was empty and the few windows on the adjacent buildings were boarded shut. Neither footsteps nor pounds of hoofs on earth could be heard. Sasuke stared at his feet, blinking the sweat out of his eyes. Since nobody would be watching and since he could not wait any longer – or rather, it could not wait any longer which was the exact opposite of Sasuke's command to his manhood – hesitantly, Sasuke fiddled with the zip to his trousers. He could do it now; he could do it later.

Screw later then.

He gulped and undid his shorts (this action was far too familiar already) speedily. Knowing he would change his fickle mind as quickly as the wind changes direction, he took the straining organ in his right hand as soon as he saw it. The same milky liquid was forming at the tip. Sasuke heaved a sigh inwardly. How much of that could his body hold? He did not seem to be running out of it.

Shaking his head, Sasuke concentrated on the task at hand. He worked his fist along the length, copying Aoi's movements before. Hotness was beginning to gush downwards. Interested with the dripping precum, he smeared it around the head of his penis and moaned silently when the evening breeze cooled it down. But still, he felt hollow, as though something crucial was missing.

What else had he not done? What had Aoi done that he had yet to perform?

If his hands did not suffice, he would take advantage of the vibrator sticking in his buttocks. Gingerly Sasuke fell to his knees, feeling the rod probing deeper and deeper into his canal, heading towards the sensitive spot somewhere – it hit it. A sharp intake of breath went unnoticed as he clenched his rectal muscles, forcing the tip of the vibrator to massage ceaselessly against the nerves. It was happening – the feeling was back. Sasuke resumed to pumping his erection, his forehead leaning on the telephone pole as he watched his penis expanded to full mass. The hotness radiating from his lower region as he felt his release inching closer and closer, and with one constricting grip on the base of his cock, he cummed again.

Nobody was nearby still. Good.

Sasuke flopped to his side, his trembling body resting on the fences. All these strenuous activities were bound to take a toll on him. He gave himself a couple more hours before he really collapsed by the road side. All the more reasons to dash back home at full gallop then.

"Sasuke-kun!"

He must have heard wrongly… he could not be this unlucky!

Then he saw it; pink head bobbed into his wavering vision and Sasuke's heart skipped a beat. He had not fixed himself! Swiftly he secured the buckle to his pants and wiped his hands in the wild shrub flourishing around the pole. He then mopped his face sloppily with his sleeves and stood up to meet Sakura.

"Sasuke-kun! Thank Lord I found you here! I was searching for you everywhere!"

The boy shrugged the urgency Sakura hinted at and asked casually, "Why do you need me?"

"Ah yes, Tsunade-sama needs you. She's waiting for you and Kakashi-sensei in her office. Do you happen to see sensei by the way?"

"Is it another mission for us?"

Sakura shook her head dejectedly. "Apparently not. Naruto and I were not involved this time."

Sasuke told her that he had not seen their teacher anywhere and she proceeded to bounding from roof to roof in search for the man. So much for resting at home…

--

After several minutes of tortuous walk, Sasuke walked up the red door and pushed it open only to see his teacher standing patiently in a corner. The Hokage meanwhile was sitting in her seat, her hands propping her head up. They were clearly waiting for him. Abashed, he muttered an apology and entered the office.

"Sakura is still looking for you," he told the older man as they arranged themselves in front of Tsunade.

"Ah, is she now? She should've known that I'm always around the Jonin complex."

The door opened for the second time and the new presence announced her presence by saying, "You should do that Kakashi-sempai. Sakura is still searching high and low for you. I saw her asking the villagers a while ago."

"I'll bear that in mind, Shizune-san," Kakashi replied graciously.

"All right, this is for you Kakashi," Tsunade said after clearing her throat, passing a rather elegant scroll bound in silk to the Jonin. After unrolling it, he gave a quick scan and ended up clenching his jaws. As polite as he could, he placed the scroll onto the overloaded table and said, "I'm sorry, Hokage-sama. I don't think I'll be able to accept this mission."

"Is it because of your history?"

"No, that's got nothing to do with it."

"You know the Lord of the village?"

"The previous one has retired, so I've been told. This one is an unknown figure."

Tsunade clicked her tongue, waving edgily in the air. "You're the most suitable Jonin to escort the person there, given your knowledge of Kusagakure. It'll be for the best of Konoha to dispatch you instead of Kurenai or Gai."

They had to venture out to a hidden village? Sasuke had traveled out of country before as a member of Team 7, accomplishing missions but he had never set foot in another hidden village. Sakura told him that this time, the meeting with the Godaime Hokage would not involve the entire team, just him and Kakashi. Why the secrecy?

"Kusagakure, you say?" Sasuke interjected the silence; Tsunade was setting Kakashi with her most piercing stare.

"Yes, Kusagakure. You're heading straight into the village itself."

So they were going into the village.

"Why can't Naruto and Sakura come along?"

At this point, Kakashi cut in; his voice heavy with resignation. "Hokage-sama, I'm sorry. Even if I have to go on this one, I'm not taking anyone with me."

"Don't be silly. You're not what they want."

"Henge no jutsu, or something more advanced. I can manage well by myself."

"You're not going alone," the elder woman snapped. She slammed the table with her fist and stood up. "You're clouded by misjudgments, Kakashi. I'm going to explain everything then for you both to see the need to dispatch you," he pointed at Kakashi, "and you," and she looked squarely into Sasuke.

"Read that scroll Sasuke. Don't stop him Kakashi," Tsunade warned, "He has the right to know."

His curiosity piqued, Sasuke took the scroll and read it word by word as he listened to Tsunade.

"As you know, Kusagakure has been our ally since the Second Ninja War. In contrast, we are still at loggerhead with Iwagakure. Based on the geography alone, the mission is already A-ranked."

True, Kusagakure and Iwagakure shared a common border and a gap. Iwa had long placed the gap under its watch even though it was not necessary. Kusagakure could not take any political or military action upon Iwa since they lack the manpower to do so. And because of that factor, it was virtually impossible for Kusa to initiate attack on any village what's more a developed one like Iwagakure. The latter in turn could not afford pillaging Kusa for fear of its great allies; the formidable Sunagakure and Konoha itself to name a few.

Sasuke had kept himself well-informed with the politics of the shinobi world. At least, he knew was what going on in the ever so complex society.

"Are we going to Kusa to re-establish political ties then?" Sasuke asked.

"… Yes, and no."

An ambiguous answer – signifying something fishy going on somewhere.

"We are going to retrieve something from Kusa and we're going to be diplomatic at that. Therefore, we're manipulating our ties with Kusa."

"Is it really necessary? They are dependant on us for their defense after all," Sasuke argued.

"Not this time. You'll understand once you learn what they have. We don't really know how, but reliable sources told us that the Lord of Kusagakure is having Iwa's military blueprints. All the data concerning its ANBU members down to the number of Genin registered with the council are in. Do you realise how valuable the data is?"

Sasuke understood. With that knowledge, Kusa could turn the table and bring down any one of the Great 5 Nations by selling the information to anyone desirable. Konoha was the strongest village at current but the other villages were not that far behind. Still suffering from the aftermath of Orochimaru's assault, the village had yet to recover to its full splendor.

"We're going to secure the data and at the same time secure Konoha's safety as well…"

"I'm glad you're following this Sasuke."

Kakashi focused his eye on his superior once more. Now that she had gotten the talk out of the way, he could discourage her from sending Sasuke on the mission with him.

"Now, what your mission actually is. You will use the gap as your route to Kusa. It is highly risky since as mentioned, Iwa is placing some of its top shinobi there but it's the quickest way for you to get to Kusa."

"Time is factor," Kakashi added, the lines on his face deepened as he said so.

"That's right. We have to get there before someone else robs the Lord of the data. However, by traveling along the gap, Iwa will brand you as trespassers and will attempt ambush. That's where you, Kakashi comes in. And I believe in your capability as the Rookie Number One of your batch, Sasuke."

They both nodded.

"The rest is up to the team leader, Hatake Kakashi. You're hereby assigned to secure the data concerning the secrets of Iwagakure and return as quickly as possible." She peered down at him. "This mission must be a success." And for a passing second, Sasuke felt her eyes rolled over him.

"Still, Hokage-sama, I'm against the proposition of appointing Sasuke as the… ambassador."

"It's not in your place to decide whom we should be sending."

Her patience was stretching thin. Using his last chance, he reasoned, "I'm offering myself as Konoha's representative instead. If I have to Henge into Sasuke, I will. And I'll keep my cover until the completion of the mission."

Tsunade sighed wearily, pressing a finger into her temple. "It's not your perseverance which concerns me Kakashi. But you should know better. Your chakra type is known to almost everyone in Kusagakure. You met them in the war, you should know. And there's no jutsu in this world which can forcibly convert your chakra into someone else's."

"I'll suppress it. It's the only way."

"Can you when you're doing it?"

Sasuke stood patiently, waiting for their discussion to end. They made no sense to him so he could only keep quiet and not interfere.

"It's final Kakashi. Sasuke's going."

Ah that, he comprehended. And he was absolutely fine with it.

"You'll elaborate on the dangers and such outside. But since we have to send a copy of your picture to the Lord, I need to know whether you want to take on this mission or not Sasuke."

The teen did not need another round of asking. So he replied, "I'm taking it. An A-rank mission after countless of D-ranks is a good change."

Sasuke threw a glance at Kakashi. There was a sense of defeat welling in his lone eye.

"Okay, that settles everything. I'll leave the gifts preparation to you Kakashi. Once a feedback is received from Kusa, their people will be waiting for you based on that photo and… you will do what you have to do."