I do not own Naruto or the other characters, at this point my only creations are Kita, the Kiraabi (aka the Kiraa) and the plot.

Shout outs to the latest reviewers: WindMiko, ref346, fightingfalconfan, nanny kiwi gurl, Kraken77, wind797, Gravenimage, Dudtheman, and Neko04

Special thanks to everyone that's been so patient. It's been an awful season to have asthma!

Chapter 13: Disclosure

If Sai weren't already unconscious, Naruto would have hit him a fourth time. Because of Sai and his crazy remarks, Naruto just couldn't sleep. His mind just wouldn't shut down and rest, being too full of thoughts of him and Sakura. Not only could he not sleep but somewhere around two AM, Naruto became sure his morning shower would have to be a really cold one.

He lost count of how many times he awoke drooling over mental pictures of her soft rounded tits. In his mind they fit his hand and mouth perfectly. That's about the time the dream went south, way south. Every time Naruto's thoughts went to dreams of licking his kanojo until she screamed, he woke up suddenly to the pounding of his heart and his virgin cock, both begging him to stop teasing them so unmercifully. So here he was staring out the window watching the sun coming up on the horizon.

Anyone could see, Naruto really did owe Sai another good punch as soon as he woke up.

Kita made it back to her room and removed the jutsu from Sakura just before the first rays of sunlight touched their window. Crawling quietly into her bed, the senior kiraa sincerely hoped she was very lucky and her protégé would sleep a couple of hours more. In the neighboring room, Yamato was true to his word, sleeping soundly after being released from the jutsu – enjoying the start of his vacation. Even Kakashi got a couple more hours of sleep before some unspoken but communally agreed upon time arrived and everyone awoke. Like a slow moving tide, the party of six began to drift down to the dining room. The surprising thing was that Naruto was the first to leave his room.

Having finally given up on a peaceful night's sleep, the young blond nin had turned his thoughts to how best spend this gift vacation with Sakura. Just before the sun came up, a brilliant idea crossed his mind: a picnic! Sakura would love it and it would be a chance for them to spend some time alone. Naruto's imagination began to fill with thoughts of himself and Sakura in a field, sitting on a blanket and her feeding him strawberries. For once the hyperactive blond was excited about getting up early. He'd need help to make his plan a reality.

Coming out of his own room, Kakashi watched the blond heading swiftly down the hall ahead of him. 'Curious,' the senior nin thought as Naruto veered off to the hotel front desk, 'Naruto is usually the last one to wake up.'

Kakashi made it to the dining room, then settled in with a cup of oolong tea as he waited for his companions to join him. He pulled out his Icha-Icha novel from pure habit and struck a pose of pure ease and relaxation. It wasn't long before he was joined by a smiling Yamato and then the ever solemn-faced Sai. The three greeted each other silently, with short nods of acknowledgment. As Yamato and Sai were helping themselves to tea, Naruto entered the room, his face boasting a gigantic mega-watt smile and a cheery hello to his team members that broke the web of silence.

"Konichiwa! What's for breakfast," the teen said a little too loudly, eagerly looking for a clue about breakfast.

"Naruto," came Kakashi's calm response from behind the Makeout Paradise novel, "this is a very nice resort, they'll serve us once we're all here."

Naruto's face and stomach fell. Patience just wasn't his strong suit.

Unfortunately for Naruto, the two kunoichi were just not in a rush to get food. Unlike their male counterparts, Kita and Sakura indulged in long showers and extra time fussing with their hair and clothes. Nearly thirty minutes after Naruto arrived, the two Leaf beauties, breezed into the dining area the very vision of the typical tourist. The civilian outfits they'd chosen for their first 'real-fake' vacation day were bright and airy.

Sakura wore a bright green sundress, with gold edging adorning the bodice and accenting her perky breast. The skirt fell a few inches above her knee and playfully kissed her thighs as she walked. Kita wore a red and white striped halter top that bared her toned midriff. She had paired the halter with a tan mini skirt that sat low on her hip bone again accentuating the amount of bare stomach flesh open to the roving eyes of passerbys. Both kunoichi where shod in simple sandals that showed off the fluid beauty of their legs.

"Aya!" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes skimming up the line Sakura's toned appendages to rest upon the tempting cleavage the dress enhanced. Suddenly he remembered all the sleep he had lost the night before and knew that he'd get even less sleep tonight – because with each step...she jiggled.

At first glance, the women thought that maybe they had misunderstood the mission assignment from the day before as the four males wore exactly the same thing as they had the day before the only difference – no visible weapons and no flak jackets. Kakashi even still wore his mask. Sakura sent up a small prayer of thanks to the kami that Naruto had at least taken off his orange jacket.

Kita whispered to her houbai, "I wonder if we can drag them on a shopping trip."

Sakura nodded, adding, "They really need our help."

"That's what you get when you leave single men to their own, devices."

"Helpless, truly helpless."

"Mhm, and sad, very sad." At that the both dissolved into a fit of uncontrollable giggles as they seated themselves.

As the last two members of their party were seated, the wait staff brought a pot of coffee, followed by their breakfast: a large bowl of rice, a hot tray of grilled salmon, a large steaming bowl of natto, a tray with sheets of nori, and a platter of mixed pickles, consisting of cucumber, radish and eggplant.

Kita and Sakura both went for the coffee first, laughing at their shared need for morning caffeine. As they ate, the females chatted easily about shopping trips and spa appointments, while their male counterparts dug in quietly. After a few minutes, Kakashi put down his chopsticks, clearing his throat to capture his team's attention.

Then he began, "I think we need to have full disclosure for this mission and for all future missions Team Kakashi undertakes." He urged his teammates to continue eating as he spoke. "You are no longer genin," looking from Naruto to Sai then to Sakura, "and as such I won't treat you like you are anymore. I trust every member of Team Kakashi, we hold each other's lives in our hands. You hold each others lives and my life in your hands."

Five pairs of eyes stared questioningly at their team leader, unable to guess what he could be leading up to. Kita sipped her coffee and thought she remembered something being said about trust...

"There is a very specific reason that we were given this part of the mission with such latitude of freedom. Sakura's parents have requested that she be removed from Team Kakashi because of her relationship with Naruto. To put it bluntly, they don't want you two in close proximity and hope to stop your relationship from continuing. The Hokage is very disturbed by their request and plans to refuse it – on the basis that it would tear apart a strong team. To stall for time with Sakura's parents, Lady Tsunade assigned us to a newly received escort mission, that did not have a concrete start and end. She modified the mission to include intel gathering. As part of her quickly drawn together plan, she included ordering our immediate and unseen departure, so that she could tell the Haruno-san that we had already left for a mission of unknown length.

All of his team paid close attention as Kakashi continued first speaking specifically to Sakura, "Lady Tsunade and all of your team mates value you as a part of our team." Then to the table at large, Kakashi said, "We should all do what we can to support Sakura, things will not be easy for her when she has to return home after this mission. But she...all three of you have proven yourselves able to make good decisions and proven that you are mature enough to be able to carry yourselves as full shinobi."

The hidden encouragement behind her sensei's words brought shiny tears to her eyes. 'So it begins,' she thought as Naruto covered her hand with his in a silent show of love and support.

For a few minutes, everyone was quiet around the table, their hearts and minds heavy with the weight of their future as a group – it could become an ugly fight to stay a team, only time would tell. Kita squeezed her students shoulder, Sakura knew she would be there no matter what fighting for her. Hadn't she promised she protect her until she was fully ready to stand alone? Of course Naruto would be by her side, even when she wasn't his kare, she couldn't get rid of him. Now that they had acknowledged their feelings, Naruto had vowed to forever be by her side. Sakura knew no force on earth could keep him from keeping his word. Sai gave his best fake smile as way to offer comfort and assurance, but Sakura new the sentiment was genuine. Both Kakashi-sensei and Yamato-senpai nodded their support.

The heavy moment ended as Kakashi spoke up again, "Now we need to talk about relationships between team mates. You two are not the first teammates to fall in love, it's quite common. Mates, lovers or sweethearts become tagged as primary pairs working as a team. I know this may seem a little strange at first but you'll get used to it. There are plenty of couples you can go to if you have specific questions."

With a nod, Naruto thought, 'Hmm, maybe I can talk to Asuma-sensei to find out how he and Kurenai-sensei work together.'

Kakashi then turned his attention to Kita.

"Kita, Yamato told me about the 'attention' you received yesterday at the tea house. We decided the pretense of being a single woman on vacation could be troublesome."

"Oh, really," the kiraa remarked her voice was flat but controlled, her brow furrowed only slightly as she spoke.

Sensing the air change around him, Kakashi chose his next words with care, "Um, yes it's different for Sakura, she can believably turn down advances because she'll be seen with Naruto. But you would be expected to welcome advances if you were alone. Continually refusing suitors would cause doubt that you are really on vacation. For that reason, we decided one of us should pretend to be your lover."

"Hm, the two of you decided, huh?"

Kakashi continued, a sense of dread growing within him – a storm was coming and he had no idea why or how to stop it.

"So until we move to the next phase of the mission, you and I will pretend to be koibitodoushi."

Kita was livid as she sarcastically asked, "But what about poor single Yamato? Aren't you worried about him having to refuse all those advances too? Aren't you afraid he could find himself in a compromising situation...forced to do what some wanton woman wants?"

Kakashi ran his hand through his unruly hair and stammered, "Uh, no not really..."

Kita's face flushed with unspoken feeling as she thought, 'No, no that could never happen because he's a man. It's only because I am a woman– kami forbid I could take care of myself. But on top of that insult, why don't you two full team members just make a decision summarily for the ad hoc team member. No need to even make her a part of the conversation after all she's not your equal or anything."

The three teens stared from one jounin to the other, not quite understanding what had happened.

Trying to ease the tense atmosphere, Yamato joked, "I'm pretty sure I wouldn't refuse any advances from a wanton woman."

Kita quickly dropped her gaze towards her plate realizing her face showed her every emotion. As she fought to draw in calming breaths, the Hokage's words flooded her mind:

'Can you be just as committed and at least 'play' the role of his second?'

Kita had hoped...no prayed it would not come to this, but now she had no choice but to follow through and hope for the best.

Only mere seconds after she had hidden her gaze, she lifted her face casually. Her look was carefree and light as she turned her attention first to Sakura and said, "Well Sakura-chan, I guess we won't be going shopping." Then she turned to Kakashi and asked in her sweetest voice with a look of pure adoration, "Koi, how shall we spend the day?"

Like a light switch, the kiraa was in character, completely committed to the task before her.

Both Kakashi and Yamato breathed a sigh of relief. Disaster averted – sort of...everyone noticed her use of the honorific title when she spoke to Sakura but did not know why.

Focusing on the issue at hand, Kakashi pondered Kita's question. 'Hm,' he thought, 'I really hadn't given any thought to what we should do.'

While Kakashi considered things, Kita again turned to Sakura.

"One more thing, Sakura-chan from today on you must not call me sensei or use any honorific when you address me."

Sakura was taken back by her sensei's request, she stammered, "But sensei-"

"Kita..." The older kunoichi interrupted, with a small but sincere smile.

"You're my mentor...you deserve my honor and respect."

Calmly, Kita looked into Sakura's green eyes and said, "Sakura-chan, I can't be your sensei anymore."

"But if you are not my sensei...what about my kiraa training?"

"My hands are tied right now and I really don't have an answer. Please just finish the mission and try to enjoy yourself if you can. I'm sure your kare is anxious to spend time with you. Everything else will work out – somehow."

Throughout the kunoichis conversation the four males remained silent – all shocked by the kiraa's declaration.

Naruto was the first of the males to speak up, loudly voicing his concerns.

"What the hell are you thinking?! You promised her and now you just go and change your mind so easily?!"

Kita did not want to go into a deep explanation but from the loud blonds reaction, she would have to say more.

"Please understand, that as an ad hoc member, I hold no position on this team, to call me teacher would place Sakura below me in rank. Kakashi has just recognized her as an equal. To remain my student would sully that. I am at least a jounin, it is acceptable for me to be moved from team to team as needed. Sakura has not reached that level yet, as a chuunin if her status were to fall to ad hoc it would make her skills suspect, or indicate she did not have the proper aptitude for the life of a shinobi. Her parents or other parties not wanting her to succeed could use that status as a reason to remove her from your team."

Sakura looked at the kiraabi with shock, the explanation being more than she ever expected.

Naruto stammered, "Y- Y- You mean-"

Yes, worse case scenario they could even forcibly have her removed from the ninja ranks."

"No!" Sakura said in a hardened voice, "No that can't be."

'I know from personal experience.' the senior kunoichi thought.

Strolling into the front gate, Jiraiya marveled at a new day as it started in his home, the Leaf Village. It was a decades old pattern he had: return only to leave again. Jiraiya hadn't had a permanent home since his early days as a jounin. He had no reason to stay in one place, and in that case, any place was as good as any other place. All he needed was to find female companionship to warm the cold, long night.

There were benefits of his continued travels: he could gather valuable intelligence about situations and enemies to the Leaf Village. Jiraiya conveyed his information as a way to stay an active part of his original home's continued security and prosperity. Every hokage since the second had welcomed his support. Now his oldest and dearest friend was Hokage and an excellent one at that. He'd seen greatness in her as a child – heck everyone had – she was the granddaughter of the venerated Shodai Hokage. Jiraiya was fortunate to be able to call her his friend as their worlds and stations in life were originally so different. Somehow the heart and soul of their friendship had lasted through more battles and arguments than he could remember. Now in this stage of his life no one cared about how they began.

"Funny how things change," he pondered out loud to no one in particular.

"You again! Must you show up at my door every day?" the senior ninja groused. Murmuring more quietly only for his guest to hear, "Dog."

"Konichiwa Hyuuga-sama," Kiba greeted with a smile, ignoring the jab. As long as Hinata's father let him see her, Kiba didn't care what the clan leader said. And to him, being called a dog was not an insult but the highest praise the stone-faced man could have chosen. All members of the inu clan recognized that a dog is loyal unto death and made the best partner that could be taken into a battle.

From behind the clan leader, Hinata peaked with a smile greeting her kare with glee, "Kiba-kun!"

The girl inched around her father's ungiving form to see her kare. Hinata had just finished breakfast with her family when Kiba had arrived. Her father's normally staunch face grew even more tense when the servant announced the guest at the door. When Hinata moved to rush to the door, a stern glance stopped her as her otottsan rose from the table first.

Confused. Hinata was thoroughly confused by her father's actions. Every day it was the same thing. Every time Kiba came over her father would stare menacingly at him and make some severe comment. Why did he dislike Kiba so? Why did he even care? Even though he never said it out loud, they both knew there was no love lost between them. Even though her father never said it directly, his actions or lack of actions towards Hinata showed the depth of his disdain for his eldest child. If it would not be a great loss of face, Hinata suspected he would have disowned her years prior.

As the Hyuuga heir just two years short of her eighteenth birthday, he should have been grooming her to assume leadership of their clan – instead his time and attention were focused on her younger sister, Hanabi. Hinata had come to accept the unspoken truth, she was an heir in name only...the reins of the clan would be passed on to her sister. Every glance in her father's eyes told her that he saw no beloved child in her. Hyuuga Hiashi only harbored coldness and disdain for his oldest child

Originally those revelations had cut through Hinata's heart, but with time and perspective she had come to realize she had received a gift – she would be free to do as she liked with her life. It was a small win when compared to the family she lost, but it opened the door for her to choose whom she liked without the fear of being forced into an arranged union.

What was left was the father and daughter pretending to be family, both acting like nothing was wrong for the eyes of the world around them. But both were well aware of the truth.

So why did her father get so upset with Kiba? To Kiba, Hinata's father was gruff and abrupt, he made sure the youth did not feel welcome in the Hyuuga compound. Hinata had thought he would encourage her to quickly find a future outside the Hyuuga clan and his home.

That was until, the Inu clan member's interest became an ever present and daily fact.

FYI: nori – dried seaweed sheets, natto – fermented soy beans

To all my kind & faithful readers, I'll work hard to not stay away so long again!

Cheers!

08/15/2009 12:07am