A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Got so many little notes in my notebook to keep track of all the little subplots and dates which are all underway and starting to pick up speed. Hope you're all enjoying it so far. Happy reading xx


Chapter 36


All the egotism Nina possessed went up in a puff of smoke as she darted across the roof tops towards the hospital.

What the hell was she thinking?

She had seriously just provoked a man, well… not just any man. Kakashi Hatake. Nina had her own seductress techniques, none of which had withstood his know-how and general sensibility when it came to sexual relations thus far.

Fuck.

Slipping on her white, freshly pressed medical jacket from her locker, Nina steadied herself for her first shift back. Not only was it her first one back after two weeks, it would be the first time she'd stepped foot into the clinic since…

"You alright?"

"Shizune. Yeh. Fine."


Their friendship went back too far for Nina's fake smile to fool Shizune.

"I can keep you company for a little while if you would like?"


Friends like Shizune were rare.

"No, but thank you."

Shit. The clock's minute hand pointed at the five indicating she was well and truly late for her shift.

"Nina… about tomorrow-"

"I'll be there but I'm … umm"

Her friend laughed at her expense.

"You better hope she hasn't decided to venture out onto the ward for rounds."

Dammit. Not a good look and if she was caught, what possible excuse could she put together? Lady Tsunade was already sceptical about whatever was, or wasn't as Nina had put it, going on between her and Hatake.

"Nina. Room 3 your first patient is waiting."

"Thanks Ayame. Sorry I'm late."

Ayame said nothing and handed over a green folder with a genial smile. Her desk was littered with bunches of assorted coloured and sized flowers. Hmpf. They were still dating.

"Guy?"

"Uh, yeah."

A random bouquet being delivered would be a lot more uncomplicated than the challenge she'd thrown down. Then again, maybe she was getting too hung up on the physical possibilities? Enough that she was ignoring that Kakashi had other options. He'd left her that lily and the book back at the inn.

"Ma'am, I know it's your first day back and all but you…"

Nina followed Ayame's finger, the waiting room was packed. Shit.

"Room three?"

"Yes."


"Seriously?"

"Oh come on Nina. Please?"

"Right off the bat I have to deal with you and your old man hip joint?"

"Injury, Sarutobi. I am a ninja."

She scoffed at Genma's correction. It may have been sustained on a mission initially, but how he'd landed in the clinic well… that was just frivolity.

"Lay down."

"Watch it! Wouldn't want to give the copy-nin a reason to beat my arse."

"And what makes you think that would be a concern?"

"Well, you're the one with your hands down my pants."

"And the whereabouts of my hands is none of his business."

"Sure it is. You're his girlfriend, aren't you?"

"No."

"Liar."

Using the little patches of hair that stuck out from under his hitai-ate, Nina reefed Genma's head so their faces were eye to eye.

"What's the big idea?"

"I'm checking for a concussion."

"What? Why?"


What was with medical women? Scary as fuck.

"I don't have a concussion. Just an observation."

With a roll of her eyes, Genma's head was forced back onto the bed, none-too-politely, when the heel of Nina's palm struck his forehead. At least her approach to his injured hip was softer.

"Hatake was…" Thinking about it now, it wasn't a very solid argument, but he knew he was right. "He's been moping for days."

"Tch."

Genma sat up on his elbows, willing himself not to react to the pain coming from where Nina was manipulating the troublesome joint.

"Funny thing is his sulking-"

"I thought you said he was moping?"

"Whatever. Strange that his moping coincided with you being away."

"And that's all it is. A coincidence."

Her hands left his hip and Nina was filling out the paperwork. "There you go. If you were so observant you would have noticed that I have a full clinic. So, out."

When another door closes… where was Hatake anyway? Genma hadn't seen him since the other night where he turned down Anko.


"As the exams are in two days, Sasuke and Naruto are to be resting."

"Right."

"Kakashi, one more thing."

"Hmm?"

"Nina may have denied it but, it still stands. You two can't avoid it forever."

"Avoid what?"

It was a good thing Nina had made mention that Lady Tsunade had already asked her and thus, he was prepared to face a similar inquiry.

"Don't play dumb, Hatake. You know very well what I'm talking about."

"I do, but I'm afraid you're barking up the wrong tree. It would be a waste of everyone's time. Konoha's resources are stretched so thin, that I had to be called back for a D-rank mission. I hardly think the Elders would approve enacting on little more than a whim."


It would certainly come across that way to him, given that she hadn't disclosed the real justification behind his return. Unfortunately, there was little to base that choice off of either and with the Elders as aware and involved as they were, she couldn't risk saying anything more.

Tch. Stale mate.

"I shouldn't have to tell you that Nina is already on an awfully short leash as it is following her actions."

It was a low blow but it was all she had. She hoped to attract his want to protect her.

"I know that too. As does Nina. If that is all Milady?"


They were shinobi. Tools.


"How is she doing?"

"Ask her yourself."

"Fine. That is all."


"Don't scowl Tsunade. You will ruin that pretty face of yours."

"Tch. Anything?"

"Nothing. Not a damn thing. Got to hand it to him. He may even be better than Orochimaru at hiding."

"Well, that's that then. It's possible this is all for nothing."

"And you believe that?"

She sat back in her chair, crossed arms and staring blankly at the report Kakashi had handed over.

"I don't know. It could all be put down to coincidence and nothing more."

"It could but…"

"I need to focus on the exams. Nothing can happen."

"Ah, Tsunade. You need to relax. I know the perfect treatment."

"Jiraiya! I have work to do."

"And it can wait."

"No! At least for now, I am still the Fifth Hokage."

"Suit yourself. I have some…"

"If I catch you peeping, so help me Jiraiya."

"It's a good thing you won't then."


"I know you had something to do with this Tommy!"

"It's Temari. And I wouldn't be going around loosely slinging accusations."

"Shut it. I don't care what her name is. I'm not so naïve to believe me being sanctioned to a security detail that didn't exist until this morning doesn't have anything to do with what happened yesterday. What you couldn't hack hearing the truth?"

"The two aren't related. Even if they were, your orders have come from the Hokage, haven't they?"

"Whatever. It's a waste of resources anyway. I've never seen anyone hit that route and I doubt it will change. You may hold her in high regard, but Nina Sarutobi isn't anything special. A botched investigation, six deaths and one of them was her brother. And he was your Sensei too, if I'm not mistaken?"

Shikamaru wasn't one for dancing around a topic. Blunt and straight to the point was his normal style and only if absolutely necessary. But he did hate Anko. Hated every word that spilled from her mouth and the way it oozed with condescension.

"You have no right to comment on a situation you weren't there for."

Instead of shutting her down, it only riled her up.

"But you were?"

Shikamaru looked to Temari whose expression was willing for him to go with her. His fists contorted in his pockets and a hiss escaped bringing a wide sly smile to Anko's face.

"Nina Sarutobi killed Asuma. Asuma is dead. His child will grow up fatherless because Nina couldn't even save her own brother."

"Shut up!"

His shadows weaved around her body ruthlessly constricting while she choked for breath.

"Shikamaru, stop! You're better than this. Let her go."

"Stay out of it Choji. You weren't there!"

Shikamaru cursed himself from within following a glimpse of his friends face. He always had the kindest heart and with that, he released his hold on Anko.

"Choji's right. You're not worth my time. Best you find another snake hole to hide out in."

"Heh. But I am right."

No, Nina was strong. She'd not only tried to save Asuma, she had even taken on the Fifth Hokage to do so. Something that Anko would never have the fortitude to do if she was ever faced with the same thing. She was just a curmudgeon. It was easy to see why she had been a target for Orochimaru but harder to understand why she had been welcomed back into the village.

"Get yourself a medical clearance otherwise you'll be even more useless than you are now."

Walking away, Shikamaru noticed the blood returning to Temari's hands. She'd been just as tense as he had been, and he knew without question his girlfriend would not have been talked down like he had been.

"Choji."

"Hn?"

"Sorry about that. Guess I kind of owe you some bbq huh?"

"I guess."

His friends' stomach growled and the trio broke out into laughter.

"You know Shikamaru?"

"Hn?"

"He…" An awkward pause came from Choji. His next words came after a gulp and were much quieter. "Asuma-Sensei would be proud of you."

"Thanks Choji. But I think it was your actions that deserve the accolades. Took guts to stand up to me like you did."

Choji's face turned a bright red and true to his nature, tears formed in the corners of his eyes. Everyone needed a Choji in their corner.


"Seriously?"

"Humour me?"

"Master Jiraiya I have a clinic full of patients who are actually in need of my help. Can't this wait?"

"Normally… maybe. But you see Tsunade is a dreadful mood and it's kind of your fault."

"She hasn't drank enough sake then."

"Funny."

Nina gave the old man a sarcastic smirk and attempted to shoo him out of the treatment room. Without making a scene by using chakra infused strength the Toad Sage wasn't going anywhere any time soon. Tch.

"Spit it out then. What's my fault?"

"This business with you and Hatake. What's going on?"

Breathing out in a raspberry sounding huff, the sound owing to the vibration of her lips, Nina stood disgruntled and with hands on her hips.

"Nothing."

"Over so soon?"

"It was…"

Okay, so she couldn't say it was nothing to Jiraiya and get away with it. That was just blatantly lying. However, she really didn't have the time or want to entertain this conversation any longer.

"There's…"

"No avoiding it. Protocol yada yada ya. I know."


He watched her plucking the strands of hair from the band she'd pulled out of her plait, she discarded them into the small bin under the desk.

"Ah well. If you know then I'll say no more. It'd be hypocritical of me to do so anyway."

"Hypocritical?"

Gotcha.

"I don't like the protocol. I think it is utter nonsense or at least it is when you've reached the points we have within the shinobi world. If you ask me it's the younger generations that should be called into question relationships. They lack the maturity to keep the two separate to some extent. And by that logic, pose a bigger risk than the likes of you and Hatake. That is if something were going on between you two. But it's not. So this is really just all for nothing."


Nice try.

"Guess so. Which reminds me. Lady Tsunade said you have some news you would wish to share with me?"


Too much, Jiraiya.

"Yeah, but you're in high demand. How about we catch up over some sake?"

"Sure. Not tonight or tomorrow. Maybe the next night?"

"That's the first day of the Chunin exams, isn't it?"

"Uh… yep. Problem?"

"None."

Jiraiya was sure Nina's hold was a little offbeat… not negatively. Her body stayed longer, her head and body buried deeper and her fingers gripped him just that little bit more than usual. All of which indicated that there was something unsteady bubbling just below her calm exterior.

It was a much younger Nina who had taught him that he should never be the first to let go. You just never know how much the other needed that embrace. This being the lengthiest one he'd been involved with from Nina in a number of years.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."


Nina readjusted herself. Pushing down the emotions that were threatening to surface. One, two and… She blew out all the tension as she exhaled. She'd managed to keep it from Jiraiya. That was an accomplishment in itself.

"Nina. Sorry to interrupt but your next patient is waiting."

"Thank you Ayame."

"Room one and their file is in their too."

Room one. She'd sidestepped that room for almost her entire shift. By her calculations she had to be nearing the end of the …

"Last one for your shift."

Shit.

"And the other rooms?"

"Being cleaned. Is there a problem?"

"No. It's fine. Thank you Ayame. I'll be there in a minute."

Or five. Or never.