AN: Note that I do not own Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, or any of the characters from either Anime. This work is a fanfiction written out of my love for the series and not in any attempt to make a profit.

Proofread by: Author and Kyluxia

Oh, man. This chapter took a while to reach completion. Several sessions just to get it written out. My muse really didn't want to cooperate until the third one. I feel a bit like trash for the wait I put you all through, but I also understand that people are forgiving enough when I usually upload every other day. Kyluxia has also been a great voice of support, telling me that I shouldn't stress it and take a break when I need one, for which I am thankful. Now then, I've held you up long enough. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 47: Before the date

"A bet?" Naruto asked, confused, yet intrigued.

"Sure. If you, and by extension, anyone else who decides to spy on our date can manage to do so without us catching on, you win the bet. On the other hand, if either Sai or we notice one of you, we win instead. Of course, ruining the date is a loss by default." Heikō explained, only to see Naruto frowning.

"I don't know about this. It doesn't feel right to turn someone's date into a part of a bet, even if it's your own." Naruto pointed out, not feeling comfortable with the idea, or that it would be right to do so towards Sai.

Heikō merely shrugged. "I don't mind, and Sakura can handle it. I don't think Sai would mind either, but asking him about it would kind of ruin it all anyways." Heikō concluded, before shrugging again. "I suppose we shouldn't then. Just make sure not to be seen if you do decide to spy on us. Remember, Sai is a former ROOT agent." Heikō warned Naruto with a smirk, as she felt Sakura realize that she hadn't even been planning to try and spy anyone spying on them, relying on Sai to spot anyone trying to peek in on their date due to his background.

"Okay, that is evil." Sakura declared although she was amused at the thought herself.

"I try. Never make a bet you aren't already certain of, or can't influence." Heikō advised, giving a stunned Naruto a final smirk before entering their room, closing the door behind them so they could get ready for their date with Sai in peace. "Now then, where do we begin?"

In the end, there wasn't all that much for the twins to consider. While they were no longer vain, they still took the time to take care of their appearance. Considering the estimated time they would be away from Konohagakure, they had packed all of their clothes as well, meaning there was no need for any last-minute shopping to appear presentable on a date. Now, the question was, just how much effort they should put into choosing their outfit. They had no idea what Sai had in mind for their date. Considering that it had been a spur-of-the-moment kind of deal, they doubted he had any fancy clothes he brought with him on such a simple mission. On the other hand, making assumptions as to how far he was willing to go with the date, it wasn't fair to assume he wouldn't find someplace where he could buy himself something nice to wear for the date. It wouldn't do to make any assumptions, so they settled for the previously agreed decision to go with something nice, but casual.

Clothes-wise, they had settled on a more civilian-looking sun-dress, a mellow yellow color that worked nicely with their hair. As for their hair, they kept it in a braid, but instead of keeping it thrown over one of their shoulders, they let it hang behind them, flowing down their back instead. On their head, they put on a small sun hat to cover their third, eye-less eye, as they wouldn't be wearing their headband on the date. On their feet, they wore a pair of simple, open-toed sandals with a bit of heel to them. Naturally, being a Shinobi, they couldn't let their change of wardrobe leave them any less prepared. With a kunai holster hidden under the skirt of their dress and a small handbag filled with tags and additional weaponry, they were just as ready to fight as they would be in their Kunoichi outfit.

"I think we're ready. If we need to change, we can always just transform. If it is just a transformation, we could hold it for the entire date." Heikō suggested as they looked themselves over in the mirror.

"God, this was poorly planned." Sakura decided, thinking about the fact that the entire thing had been a spur of the moment decision, both for Sai to invite them out on a date, as well as them accepting it. Neither the time, place, or activity for the date had actually been discussed, and yet they had put so much thought and care into planning their own part in it. The only thing they hadn't done was put on makeup, and that was only because they hadn't thought to bring any with them from Konoha. Not that they used it much anyways ever since they began training earnestly. While they could buy some in the village, none of the products they had seen were familiar to them, and their attempts to use them would most likely just result in a waste of money. Besides, considering that they weren't really sure about Sai to begin with, prettying up that much might be considered overkill.

"Perhaps, but isn't that a bit more exciting? We know nothing about Sai. Who knows, maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised." Heikō suggested optimistically.

"Maybe…" Sakura agreed although she wasn't as optimistic about it as Heikō.

While they hadn't agreed on a set time, the twins didn't have to wait long for Sai to pick them up, as he arrived no less than five minutes after they were done getting ready for the date, surprising them as he knocked on their door.

Unfortunately, Sai also disappointed them slightly by wearing the very same clothes he had worn as they arrived in the village.

"You've dressed up," Sai noted, upon seeing them as they opened the door.

"Well, yes. We thought it was a good idea to dress up a little for our first date. We weren't sure where you wanted to take us, or what you were hoping for with this date, but it seems we were a bit optimistic." Sakura responded, a little annoyed that Sai seemed so surprised at seeing them having dressed up for the date.

"Apologies. I was aware that it's common to dress up for dates, I just didn't expect it to be required for a date scheduled on such short notice. I didn't bring anything appropriate to wear with me." Sai informed them, surprising Sakura with how sincere and remorseful he sounded.

"Told you." Heikō teased Sakura, before offering Sai a smirk. "Well, it is understandable. Although, we do wonder why you asked us for a date, to begin with. We didn't expect someone who used to be in ROOT to be our first date." Heikō informed him, deciding to be direct with Sai and just ask him.

"Ah, I'm not entirely certain myself. Although, I think I know why I don't really measure up to what you expect of a former ROOT operative. I never technically finished my ROOT training, and I've been receiving help ever since Danzō was chased out of the village." Sai explained, before offering them a hand. "How about we continue this discussion during our date?" He offered, showing them a picture-perfect, but otherwise hollow smile that the twins could tell was nothing but an intentional and practiced gesture.

"Sure, but do us a favor. Try not to act "natural" around us. We can see when your smile isn't real." Heikō warned him, accepting his offered hand while offering him a true smile in return. "Don't imitate, don't try, just do. If you stop trying, your body will eventually do the rest itself. It's how all of us learned, you will too." She assured him, glad to see Sai's expression frown thoughtfully for a moment before he nodded in acceptance. He didn't smile, but the twins got the impression that if he hadn't once been in ROOT, he would have smiled at that moment. Although, it could just be optimistic thinking on their part.

Sai began leading them out of the inn they were staying at and down on the village's busier streets. Sai didn't say anything except for brief warnings whenever he changed directions or tried to steer them clear of other people walking down the same street, so the twins took the opportunity to speculate as to where Sai was leading them. Sakura was guessing that Sai had likely asked the Jōnin available, or read from a book, meaning he likely would take them to one of the more mundane, popular options that could be arranged on short notice. Since Inaho village didn't have a Theater, a dinner date seemed the likeliest. The timing was fitting for such a date, and the other alternative of a picnic date was unlikely, due to the preparations required, although it was still a possibility, although their heading through the village didn't support that idea, as it would imply they were heading quite far away.

Heikō on the other hand believed that Sai would try something unconventional, perhaps inappropriate, or ill-suited for a first date. She entertained herself by suggesting several, more exciting and outrageous ideas, like skinny dipping or bandit hunting, claiming that Sai was unlikely to have a good grasp as to what would be considered an acceptable idea for a first date.

Eventually, Sai led them off the main street in the village, and they soon arrived at their destination, indicated by Sai stopping, before leading them inside an onsen named Thousand Dewdrops, much to the twins' confusion. Fortunately, their confusion didn't last long, as the receptionist seemed to recognize Sai, and noticed the twins with him. The woman was a short brunette with green eyes, freckles dotted below her eyes, and wearing a dark blue yukata.

"Ah, Sai. Here for your reservation?" The woman at the reception asked, sounding a bit excited.

"Indeed Miss, Yoko. This here is Sakura, my date for the evening." Sai introduced them, which had the Yoko smiling even more.

"Oh, young love, how romantic!" Yoko exclaimed.

"Um, actually-" Sakura began correcting her, only for Yoko to interrupt her before she could finish.

"Everything is already ready for you two, don't worry. You're both going to love it!" Yoko assured them, before gesturing to a doorway, the top portion of which was covered with a curtain with the word "customers" written on it. "Just go through there, the first room to the right, Kotone will show you the changing rooms," Yoko informed them, while the twins were trying to figure out exactly what was going on. You couldn't have a date in an onsen, could you?

"Well, seem's I was right. This is unexpected, isn't it? I didn't even know this place was here. Jiraiya didn't have this place marked on his map, did he?" Heikō remarked, and Sakura nodded internally. They had seen Jiraiya's map of the Elemental nations, marked on it were all of his "research" locations, and the Thousand Dewdrops had not been marked on that map.

Following Sai, the twins soon figured out why. The Thousand Dewdrops wasn't a regular onsen. It was apparently a very exclusive, healthcare destination, something that became obvious as they stepped into the first room to meet Kotone, a long and black-haired, dark-skinned woman with expressive, orange eyes that seemed to stand out like embers in contrast to her dark complexion. Her job was a dead give-away, as she stood there, smiling at them, next to a pair of massage tables.

"Welcome, I am Kotone Takagi, and I will be your masseuse this evening." The woman introduced herself, before bowing to them, before showing them to a pair of changing rooms. Inside, the twins found a basket for their belongings, which to their surprise had seals on them to prevent theft, assuring them that their things would remain safe. Slippers and a set of bathrobes for them to choose from had been prepared. Sakura and Heikō decided that Sai had definitely outdone their expectations. It wasn't until they were about to leave the changing room that they noticed a scroll hanging next to the door. Curious, they opened it and had a look inside, before blinking in surprise.

"Acupuncture?" Sakura uttered, in a slightly nervous, paranoid voice, as they read the provided itinerary for their spa-date with Sai.

AN: Here it is, the first steps to the date between Sai, and the Haruno twins. Not quite what anyone expected. As for the details of how this particular date came to be, well… ROOT, and a set of certain perverts can be blamed for what led to this. Unfortunately, Jiraiya and Kakashi were the only adults for Sai to consult on his original idea. Jiraiya fully approved of course, but Kakashi was at least reasonable enough to make the date appropriate enough. Let's just say that the alternative would have made this date turn sour real fast.

Kyluxia here. Hmm, needles and lots of extra tenketsu, this will go flawlessly. Until next time!