Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter Ten: Mitsu's

"So, Kakashi-sensei,.." Naruto's voice dropped to an exaggerated whisper. Even Kakashi had to lean in closer to hear. "Why is Moon Country our enemy?" They walked up the block to Mitsu's, which beamed like an electric oasis through the blacked out neighborhood. A swarm of people emerged from nearby restaurants and bars, all heading towards Mitsu's. Kakashi sighed and wished that Naruto had asked his questions in a less conspicuous location. Hell, he wished that Naruto would find a bottom to his endless pit of a stomach. They were going to have a long day tomorrow, and he really wanted to catch up with Sakura to discuss final details. Though with the black-out, she and Aya would probably be heading to Mitsu's as well. He still wasn't sure what he thought of Aya. She seemed far too extraverted and showy to be a serious shinobi. Like Naruto. Of course, Naruto had proven him wrong many times. "Kakashi-sensei?"

"Generations ago, a young noble woman from Fire Country was supposed to marry a prince from the Hidden Village of Sun in Moon. They had been betrothed since birth. On the day of the wedding, the princess never showed up. A few days later, she was found hiding in Konoha, having run off with one of her own servants. Since she was from Fire Country, Konoha provided refuge, which made Moon Country furious. They began making ridiculous accusations, such as piracy on their rivers and that Fire Country was plotting with their enemies. In the end, a cold war started between the two countries, and while fighting has rarely commenced, it's remained a tense situation. Nor did it help that Sasuke's battle with Itachi took place near here. Destroyed quite a number of crop fields and homes on the outskirts." Kakashi had always wondered if there wasn't more to the story. He had felt that it was just an excuse to cover up some larger plot or conspiracy, but even though they were camping in enemy territory, he didn't feel like it was his responsibility to uncover or resolve any lingering tensions. Politics made him queasy.

"Oh." Naruto squinted at him. Apparently the story hadn't been enough for him either. He didn't elaborate or share his personal feelings on the subject. Besides, they were already at Mitsu's. "Do you think they have ramen?" Kakashi sighed and shook his head. If Naruto would have his way, he'd save the entire world – through food probably. Not a bad way to handle things, really.

Mitsu's was indeed swarmed with people. He didn't care for that. The place was dim and he could just make out the dull thrum of the generators below the pounding music and ongoing conversations. That was good. They probably wouldn't be noticed... Kakashi turned on his heels just in time to see Naruto climb on top of an occupied table, waving his arms frantically. The people sitting around the table gaped and laughed.

"There's got to be a better way to get a waiter..." Kakashi mumbled to himself as he went to collect his wayward former student. But as soon as he drew closer, he saw that it wasn't a waiter or food that had caught Naruto's attention. Oh no. It wasn't something all together different. Something all together... What the hell?

Up on a small stage with the lone bright light stood a trembling Sakura, dressed in a brilliant shade of pink and sporting a disastrous dark wig. What was she doing? Then he noticed the microphone in her hand. Oh no. Oh no. She couldn't possibly be planning to do that, could she?

Naruto turned to Kakashi with a ridiculously wide grin. Kakashi pinched the bridge of his nose. This had to be some sort of bad dream. They weren't stuck in a black out in an enemy country with Sakura about to sing. This wasn't happening.

"If I leave here tomorrow... Would you still remember me?"

Kakashi wished he had stuck cotton balls in the emergency kit that he kept in his side pouch. Hadn't she taken singing lessons in her kunoichi classes? The whole room grabbed their ears. Only Naruto seemed immune as he pumped his fists along with the song. And Aya. The girl leaned casually against the stage, bobbing her head in time to the music. For that matter, what the hell was Sakura singing?

"For I must be traveling on now, cause there's too many place I've got to see..."

Sakura had begun to relax and get into the song. She shifted weight from foot to foot and grabbed the mic with more confidence. Oi. So, well, now he knew there was actually one thing out there she didn't do well. With some of the thoughts he had lately, he could at least focus on this instead. Though, he realized as he even considered that, it was so horrible as to be endearing.

He started to settle and relax as Sakura reached the chorus. As soon as she started singing about how she was "free as a bird," everything suddenly fell apart.

Before even Kakashi realized what was happening, Aya was up on the stage and tearing the mic away from Sakura. She was gesturing strongly and yelling something about Naruto. Sakura looked frightened but not surprised. Kakashi immediately fell into a defensive posture before he even made out Aya's ranting.

"He's an enemy! From Fire Country! From Konoha!" she screamed. Sakura tried grabbing the mic back from her, but Aya held her grip.

"Stop it! That's not what we... Stop! Give me..."

Aya ignored her and simply shoved Sakura off the stage. Even through the throng, Kakashi could see the chakra starting to glow in the angered girl's fists. He nearly threw out his neck glancing back and forth between Sakura, who nearly flew back onto the stage, and Naruto, who still seemed to be processing the entire scene.

"Naruto! Run!" Kakashi appeared briefly behind the boy and whispered in his ear. Naruto gave him a funny look but nodded. "Meet us back at the training field." Naruto fled.

"Sakura!" Kakashi darted through the crowd to grab her. Half of her wig was off, and her kimono was sliding off one shoulder as she readied to punch Aya. The enemy kunoichi appeared nonplussed as she continued shouting about Naruto. He wondered why she hadn't mentioned either Sakura or himself.

"This isn't what we talked about..." Sakura said through gritted teeth as Kakashi grabbed her arms and pulled her into him. She squirmed and he had to duck her thrashing, chakra-charged feet and fists. Most of the people from the club had disappeared, either chasing after Naruto or fleeing in fear of some sort of assault from Fire Country. A few remained and stared at the trio but made no move to stop them.

Aya turned calmly and faced the restrained girl. "He'll be fine. I'll get to him before they do and get him back home. I held up my half of the bargain. Go hold up yours and get out of here. Both of you."

"This is..."

"Over. I know. I'll be sorry for that, Sakura-chan. Hopefully, you'll realize later that this was the best way."

"Bitch."

Aya shook her head. Kakashi tried piecing everything together, but there was something important he was missing. He just didn't know what. "Go. Now. He'll be fine. Trust..." Before she could finish, Kakashi retreated with a flailing Sakura, cupping his hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming.

Once they were behind the bar, he pinned her against the damp, brick wall to keep her from running back. He wasn't sure if she'd go after Aya or Naruto, and right now, he couldn't handle either. He needed answers. And he needed them now.

"Let go of me, Kakashi!" Apparently she had stopped having a problem tagging any honorifics to his name. "Let go of me now!"

"Not a chance. You have to calm down, and you have to tell me what is going on. The quicker you do that, the quicker we can take care of the rest." He wasn't concerned about Naruto escaping the crowd. He hadn't noticed many shinobi in the group, and Naruto could definitely outrun any of the few he had sensed. He just hoped the boy didn't do anything stupid like fight any of them.

"I'm going to kill Aya!" she screamed, as her face reddened.

"She wasn't lying to you," Kakashi said. That stopped Sakura, who stared at him as if he had dropped his mask by accident. "I don't know what that was, but I know she wasn't lying to you."

"What? You can just sense that?"

Kakashi sighed. Sakura should be able to read body language, chakra readings, and timbre better than that. And while Aya could be a great actress, she wasn't better than his sharingan. Sakura knew all this. He stared down at her, wondering how to get her to calm down. Her face was strong and furious. The wig had disappeared, and perspiration had cleared away the awful make-up. She was worked up, passionate, and breathing hard. Her eyes bored into his, and he could feel the heat rising from her. It took everything he had not to smash his mouth against hers. Suddenly, Sakura wasn't the only one who needed to calm down.

He released her and stepped back. Sakura slumped to her knees.

"What is going on?"

She turned away from him before she began to speak. "I can't tell you."

"Then, we're not going anywhere. You can't keep secrets during a mission. Not like this." He hoped she wouldn't point out his hypocrisy. "Naruto will be fine. You know he will be. And Aya wasn't lying. I don't know why she did that, but she'll make sure he isn't trampled by the crowd."

"She's trying to get him to go home."

Kakashi cocked an eyebrow. "And why would she be doing that?"

"Because I asked her to. Naruto needs to be home. With Hinata. Not out here. Not now."

"And you just decided this? Without consulting either of us? Without..." He suddenly felt his own fury start to rise, but when he looked down at her again, his anger dissipated. She was crying into her hands. What was he still missing?

"I'm sorry. Inoue-chan told me to choose one. So I chose. I thought it was the right thing to do," she said. Kakashi had no idea what she talking about. He knelt beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. This seemed to make Sakura cry more, but he didn't remove the offending appendage. "I'm so sorry. She said it was important for me to choose one. And you seemed to condone the training... I think... I need to go fix things!" She started to stand up, but Kakashi held her down. She turned up to him, and he stared at her, questioning. Sakura burst out into tears once again. She swallowed her wail and collected herself. "She said I could only complete this mission with one of you. Naruto should be home with Hinata. I can't be thinking about that when we reach Tree Country. I can't do this by myself, but I also can't do it with both of you. I need you, Kakashi. Just you."

Kakashi pulled his hand away so that she wouldn't notice how it had begun to tremble. He suddenly understood what had happened. Sakura had told this to Aya who had concocted the whole scheme. He wouldn't have put it past her to have arranged the black-out. He had been right. Aya wouldn't let Naruto get hurt. She had done this to fulfill Sakura's wishes, even though Sakura didn't seem to understand that. She would though. Soon enough. How else would Aya have convinced Naruto to go home?

Sakura had chosen him. His breath slowed while his pulse quickened. Kakashi trusted Inoue the way he trusted few people. And she knew better than anyone else how to prepare a young woman to be with a man, especially a man she had no interest in being with. He hated this mission. He hated that Sakura might have to face something as traumatic as that. He hated that it was for something "noble" enough to warrant her facing this situation. And he particularly hated the way he wanted to scoop her up in his arms and cradle her gently until it was all over.

Instead of giving into his seething hatred, he pushed it back down with everything else he was holding in and hiding. He sighed and offered a hand to Sakura, who stared at it for a moment before taking it and standing up.

"We should leave. Once we cross into Tree Country we can take a break," he said. Sakura dried her eyes and nodded. Kakashi bit his tongue lightly. From here on in, it was just going to be the two of them. Alone.