A/N: Thanks for the reviews! As for a hot scene between Jiraiya and Tsunade- I'm unsure. I dabbled in a little fluff earlier on in this sequel. It's possible I could put one in somewhere :) Happy reading x And keep those reviews coming- truly appreciate them :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto. This story is purely a work of fanfiction.

Nina- is my original character (I do own her)

Chapter 17

Ten days. In normal terms of some of their missions, it was hardly a lengthy amount of time at all. A- and S- ranked missions could see them absent from the village for weeks and months at a time. Months. Could a relationship sustain that? Could theirs?

Speaking of relationships, about earlier, he really ought to verify his assumptions just to be safe. It wasn't a subject he had to broach. He'd always been careful with any casual sexual liaisons.

Two, three and…

"Four." Nina came to his side lifting up the bottom of the borrowed shirt. "You'll be wanting this back." Nina's undressing was halted, when the shirt was over her head and her mid drift exposed.

"No." Kakashi gave an airy laugh, tugging the shirt back down and spoke softly. "You keep it."

Turning back to the bed to account for his belongings before packing his bag to leave.

"Nina about earlier…"

Shit. Pausing in the door way to the balcony, Nina did her best to keep her front up. "As I said I just got up too fast."

"There wouldn't be any possibility it was because of…?"

This was certainly uncanny. He was perfectly at peace with reading Jiraiya's Icha Icha series, largely regarded as smut, and in public, yet, here he was unable to ask a simple question.

Nina examined Kakashi. He was red faced and running his hand down the back of his neck. What on earth was he? Oh.

"Oh, um, no. That's well…" Nina couldn't help but laugh. "It's not possible. Being a kunoichi and Anbu operative means there's certain measures taken to ensure that doesn't happen. "

"Right. Good."

"Relax, Kakashi." Nina brushed it off as she walked back out to the balcony, borrowed Icha Icha in hand.

Relax? Nina was telling him to relax? The same girl who couldn't even sit in close proximity to him at a ramen bar a few weeks ago? Things had definitely changed. Once he'd collected himself, Kakashi returned to packing his bag.

Stepping out onto the balcony, his body seized. Kakashi immediately contemplated the flexibility of the term "urgent" regarding his return to Konoha.

Nina was lounging in a chair that she'd repositioned. Her long legs bare and stretched out on to the railings, ankles crossed, and reading Icha Icha Tactics with the book resting against her thighs. One hand gloved by the overhang of the sleeve was toying with her lips. A gentle breeze lifted pages and had parts of her hair streaking across her face, which she used her other hand to brush away from obstructing her view.

Seemingly unaware of him, Kakashi cleared his throat. "I will be needing that back, though." Plucking the book from her lap and pocketing it into the pouch on his hip. Leaning against the railing before standing upright, Kakashi sunk his hands in pockets and tapped his toes of both feet.

Nina set her feet to the ground, leant forward, crossing her arms over each other along the railing, then rest her forehead against them.

A strange uneasiness crept in, neither one sure on whether to break the silence.

"Lady Tsunade isn't a patient woman." Nina willed her body to move against her internal wishes and now that she was standing Kakashi turned and straightened up. Her eyes were at his chest. He was dressed in his normal attire barring the flak jacket and metal plate on his hitai-ate. She let her fingers skim up his shirt until they came to the rolls over his mask that was crumpled around his neck.

He hadn't told her, yet, - about what Tsunade had warned him of before they left. Maybe that wasn't an issue considering his leave had been cut short? Or maybe it would still stand?

"We will need to go ahead of the Village Elders and the Fifth Hokage when we return."

Nina continued to fidget with the material; running her fingers back and forth along the folds.

"It's standard protocol."

Protocol. Nina's head filled with the replay of the sounding alarms from the machines that had blared in the final moments of …

"No." She swallowed, feeling Kakashi's body stiffen and shift.

"Nina, I have a distaste for having people pry into my private life as much as the next person. But the reality is we are-"

"Shinobi." She muttered.

"It's unavoidable."

She gave a small nod. Pinching the material in between the fingers of both of her hands, Nina gradually lifted Kakashi's mask up. She adjusted it until the seam sat where it always did, along the bridge of his nose, and with the band of his hitai-ate slightly overlapping it on the left hand side.

Not discrediting Asuma and Kurenai roles within the village, but Kakashi and her weren't ordinary shinobi. They were considered a part of Konoha's elite. Called up for duty to not save lives but take lives.

It was foolishly naïve to believe they could skirt around any confrontation.

NIna drew in and exhaled a shaky breath. "I know."

Nina swivelled backwards, allowing Kakashi free passage to leave. She hadn't been lying when commenting about the Fifth's lack of patience.

Fear. Kakashi feared if he removed his hands from within his pockets that would take on a life of their own and he may never leave.

When Nina made her move, so did he.

"Don't say a damn word."

Temari could barely contain her laughter behind pursed lips.

"Oh yeah, laugh it up Ino and Choji. Just wait until it's your turn."

Temari couldn't resist joining Choji and Ino in a group laugh at Shikamaru's expense. The guy was covered in scratches, dirt and twigs.

"Did you at least succeed in your mission?"

"Yes."

Although, truthfully they'd come very close to failing the mission. Luckily, with some quick thinking on his behalf, he'd dove into the prickled bush and saved the prized pet from landing in it.

Just when he thought there couldn't possibly be anything worse than one Naruto, he'd been assigned a team of three of him. And not the Naruto that had gained at least a little sensibility but the loud, ignorant, brat, fresh out of the Academy.

"You know, you should probably get Sakura to look at some of those cuts. They may get infected."

Somehow Shikamaru had deciphered Choji's words that were muffled by the copious amounts of food his shovelled into his mouth. He knew she would be up at the hospital somewhere, covering for Nina. And he still hadn't apologised. What a drag.

"I think I've pretty much got it now. Thanks Pervy-Sage."

"Jiraiya-boy. Naruto-boy. Just in time. Ma has cooked up a storm to help you with all your hard training.

"Sorry. I'm needed elsewhere. Raincheck. I'll be back to check on you later kid."

Naruto's stomach lurched at the thought of Ma's cooking. Despite spending a decent amount of time here for training, he wasn't accustomed to their food.

"Bring me back some ramen…"

But before he could finish his request his master had vanished. Dammit.

Jiraiya had been tied up longer than he'd expected in Mount Myoboku. His first point of call was to check in with his toads and then go and see his fair lady.

Tsunade had just returned to her office and there was a knock at her door.

"Come in."

Dammit. She'd expected them, but a lot later. There was still no word from Jiraiya.

"Have a seat."