Damn those tilted lips that know she'll win eventually. So Sasuke did something unbelievably illogical.

He kissed her.

"Fine."

And then Sakura smiled up to him.

"Finally. You know I was going to win eventually anyway."

Without any idea what to answer to that, and knowing it was correct anyway, he simply leaned to her and then kissed her. Again.

Chapter 10: Unlikely Attitude

"Sakura is going where!" Naruto exclaimed, staring vehemently at the glaring Hyuuga and his white haired sensei.

'Rescue the children, Naruto." Kakashi answered.

"BUT SHE JUST CAME OUT OF THE HOSPITAL!"

"I KNOW!" Neji heatedly exclaimed, glaring at the blond haired ninja. "But what can we do! Sakura wanted to, and Uchiha agreed!"

"DAMN SASUKE!"

"Now, now boys, don't argue so openly." Tsunade, the fifth Hokage laughingly said, looking over at the two men arguing in her office.

Kakashi coughed. "But Tsunade-sama, why did you agree to send Sakura away even though she just came out from the hospital?"

Tsunade smiled. "How can I possibly stop her, being the mother she is?"

"You could have given them back-up." Neji interjected.

She sighed. "We can't spare any, not even you. The Akatsuki is making some strange, or to be more adequate, incoherent movements. It is hard to calculate what they are going to do next, so we have to keep as much nins as possible."

Naruto pouted. "Oh, alright. But what if Sakura's put in a dangerous situation?"

"Hey, that's why Sasuke is with her!"


The sun was high up in the skies, its blaze scorching those beneath it unceasingly, as the two travelers continued on their journey.

Puff puff.

"Are you alright, Sakura?"

Puff. "Yes, Sasuke."

"You're wheezing."

Puff puff. "Am not."

"Am too." I can't believe I'm saying this, Sasuke thought.

"Am not."

"Am—look!"

The two traveling nins landed on the ground as Sasuke hastened to the object that caught his eye.

Sakura stared at it in bewilderment. "That's Nagisa's bracelet! I remember that was my gift for her sixth birthday!"

Sasuke nodded. "Then we are on the right track."

"Come on then!"

"No."

Sakura stared at him in surprise. "What!"

"We must rest for a few minutes. Remember, you just came out of the hospital."

"But-!"

"No. It's only for a few minutes, so we'd better take the chance now that we're sure we're on the right trail."

"Oh alright." Sakura pouted.

She sat down on the nearest tree and opened the backpack she was carrying. She produced two club sandwiches and a jug of cool spring water, the latter provided by Sasuke. Preserved provisions were put in Sasuke's pack, as he insisted that the lighter of the two be given to her.

As they munched their food, they contemplated their current situation. Moments before they landed, Sasuke spied a fork on the road they were heading into. Pondering which road to take, the black haired ninja barely heard his companion's voice calling out to him.

"SASUKE!"

Sasuke shook his head slightly. "What?"

"Do you think Itachi went far from Konoha? Will we be traveling long?"

Sasuke mulled over this and shrugged. "Personally, I don't think so. Large organizations, which I am aware he is with, have several safe houses spread in the forest floors. It's very elusive, and even trained jounins have a hard time locating it. Besides, several kilometers before each setting, scouts are posted to warn the high ranking members staying at each house of strangers."

The pink haired woman eyed him in dismay. "You mean we might not be able to find it even if it's right in front of us!"

Sasuke stared at her in surprise, and then smiled. "I don't think that is the problem. We'd better try to locate it before we think about that."

"But we might not sense it or something! We might never find it!"

Sasuke shook his head. "Sharingan will find a way."

"It better."

Sasuke hastily gulped some of his water and stood up. "We'd better get going. There's a fork up the road."

Sakura was busy covering their tracks just in case and this comment startled her from moving. "A fork! How are we supposed to know which way to go!"

The Uchiha shrugged. "We have no choice in that matter. We have to gamble and take a chance."

"As if we didn't have enough trouble without this." Sakura grumbled.


"Natsuke, what are we doing here?"

Nagisa allowed her eyes to wander around the plush room, where the wins have been brought by two women. She and her brother were currently seated in the sofa, speculating what was actually going on.

"I dunno."

The click of the doorknob startled the two of them and they whipped their heads to the direction of the door.

Shock registered in their faces. "Sasuke-san!"

Itachi smirked.


"Sakura, stop!"

Sakura immediately halted and hid behind the tree on which she landed. She eyed Sasuke suspiciously, surveying their current positions. It was already late in the evening, but Sakura managed to persuade Sasuke for them to continue further on.

"What is it?"

"We better rest for now."

Sakura shook her head fervently. "I could still go on! I—"

Sasuke raised his hand. "It's not that. There is a small village ahead. Let's take note of our surroundings before we proceed. Beyond it might officially be the enemy's territory. It's much safer for them to put a village or two from a ninja colony like Konoha."

Sakura eyed him in astonishment. "How do you know that we are actually on the right track? We found the bracelet this afternoon and we traveled in this direction beyond the fork on the road because of your intuition!"

"Sakura, we could consider ourselves lucky. We found a lead even though we have just started. This proves that our targets are not too far off. Usual ANBU search missions take months or years to---"

"DON'T START LECTURING ME AGAIN!" Sakura screeched. "HOW DARE YOU CALL MY – OUR – CHILDREN TARGETS AS IF THEY WERE ---!"

The rest of her sentence was muffled by Sasuke's large hand, which was clamped in front of her mouth.

"Be quiet." Sasuke whispered. "We can't be too careful. We may or may not be near the enemy's territory, or might even be inside it. And besides, I didn't mean that." He added the last statement in reference to the cause of Sakura's outburst.

He freed Sakura's mouth and pointed at the distance. "Let's continue on to that village." He activated Sharingan for a moment and did a quick check. "No danger, if my Sharingan has anything to say in it. Before I forget," he looked at Sakura pointedly. "If we are ever asked, you are Hikari Hoshino, my wife, which you actually are, may I add. I am Akira, and we are traveling merchants. You'd better remove your forehead protector as well."

"Fine. Sakura grumbled.

Sasuke, unbelievingly, smiled a genuine smile. "Lighten up."

Sakura stared at him before laughing uproariously, forgetting to be silent at all. "I can't believe that time will come and you will say that to me."

Sasuke joined in a moment later.


At the village, later on discovered as the Gourd Village, those who are known as 'night people' can't stop themselves from staring at the two new arrivals. Who could blame them? Sasuke is handsome as Sakura is beautiful, like a faerie dancing in the light. The list goes on and on for this beautiful couple.

As Sasuke entered a small store to refurnish supplies, several men who had too much to drink approached Sakura, who was sitting on the front steps.

"Hey girlie," a drunkard said. He grabbed her chin and surveyed hem from one side to the other. "You're one real beauty. What do you say…hic!... we leave your bud and you …hic!… come drink with these good friends of mine?"

The others leered at Sakura, lust evident in their eyes. Obviously, it just isn't a drink or two that they want from her.

"Sir," Sakura started pleasantly, undaunted by their disgusting behaviors, "if you don't get your hands off me this instant, you are going to get a thorough beating."

"From who, sweetheart?" Another asked, stretching his hand to touch her hair.

"Me." The man's hand cracked, and in a split second, he went flying to the nearest trash bin.

"From him." Sakura continued amiably. The hand holding her chin, with the man to whom it was attached, grounded the gravel with great force, managing to cause evident ruin.

The remaining men, eying Sasuke fearfully, picked up their fallen comrades and made a mad dash away from them.

Sakura finally stood up and walked beside Sasuke. She smiled. "Now, now Sasuke, you were too protective, if I may say so myself. I could have taken care of them."

"You were too laid back, I couldn't help it."

"Look at the spectacle you've been. Half the girls here have fallen head over heels in love with you."

Sure enough, girls littered the streets, looking at Sasuke hopefully (and droolingly), and eying Sakura enviously.

Sasuke, uncaring to their attention, wrapped his arm around Sakura's waist, and proceeded to the nearest lodging.


"No way!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Sorry, madam." The clerk intoned, eyeing Sasuke interestedly. Sasuke didn't even glance in her direction. "There is only one more available room, and only one spare cot.

"But-" Sakura protested.

"We'll take it." Sakura cut in, grabbing Sakura's hand. All further protests died on her lips as the female clerk handed Sasuke the key.

As they entered the sparse room, Sakura shook his hand off and faced him as Sasuke closed the door behind him.

"What did you do that for!" Sakura asked, glaring sordidly at the silent Uchiha.

"What do you want? Sleep on the streets?" Sasuke blandly questioned, unpacking the take-out meals he bought.

For a moment, Sakura eyed him disbelievingly, and then shook her head to admit defeat. She had to admit, it was a sound argument.

They sat down and ate in silence. After they washed up and finished, Sasuke said, "Sleep in the cot. I'll sleep by the wall."

Sakura anticipated this and nodded wearily, tired of the arguments. Sasuke cocked a curious eyebrow at her but said nothing. As they made themselves comfortable, Sakura removed the blanket from the cot and held it out to Sasuke.

Sasuke took it and looked at her questioningly. Sakura smiled a bit and said, "I'm fine with the other blanket for the floor."

The black-haired man shrugged and took the blanket. "You sure?" At Sakura's nod, he sat back at the wall and covered his body. Obviously exhausted from their travel, he slept easily. Barely a minute passed and his breathing was slow and even.

But Sakura tossed and rolled. Sleep would not come. A few minutes later — hours, in her opinion — the open window brought in bitter winds from the east. Sasuke shivered visibly.

Sakura noticed this, and after a few moments hesitation, Sakura sidled up next to him, dragging her blanket with her. She covered them both with it, and here, she fell asleep easily.

But before she totally lost herself in sleep, she felt a warm arm by her waist, instinctively pulling her close. She finally fell asleep, lulled by the comfortable warmth that enveloped her.

Unfortunately, she didn't notice her Sasuke's eyes opening to stare at the woman next to him.

TBC…


Authoress' Notes:

1. Sorry guys! I had a writer's block, and I take full responsibility. Next chapter, I swear something important will happen! Please read and review!