~~~~~~~Earlier that day~~~~~~~

Clock on the wall just stroke midnight. With a pencil in his lips, Kakashi flipped the to next page of the report. The paper he held in his hands was the report that had to be submitted a long time ago. Report from the mission with team 7, the one where aim was to protect the merchant.

Kakashi knew that mission wasn't complicated and so the report writing shouldn't be either, but something was holding him back from submitting it to the lady Hokage.

Kakashi took the pencil from his mouth and with his other hand flipped report back to the title page. He wasn't concentrated anymore. His gaze was calmly locked on the piece of paper but his mind was running errands.

What was truly disturbing him was the teamwork of his subordinates.

But what was the matter? What was wrong with them? Everyone knew that the original line-up of team 7 was back after the Great Shinobi War. Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke. They worked together again. Sakura has blossomed, both as shinobi and a gorgeous woman. She mastered her skills by being Tsunade's apprentice and became as experienced as ever. Next was Naruto - he already had people's admiration from all around the world, but the Great War Naruto truly skyrocketed his prominence. And Sasuke...

Unfortunately, Sasuke was surrounded by another kind of fame. The key turn of events for Sasuke happened right after he got contracted with Akatsuki when he was younger. Way too many head-hunters and bandits we're willing to catch the last Uchiha alive for their own benefits. Unfortunately, each of the Five Kage's were also concerned about Uchiha being at the liberty. Back in a time Sasuke was mentioned in the Bingo Book and all five Kage's were openly discussing the possible ways of capturing him.

But now it seemed as the end of Great Shinobi War also brought an end to Sasuke's wanders around the world. He fought shoulder to shoulder with other ninja's from Allied Forces on the battlefield, helped to seal Kaguya back and even admitted being defeated by Naruto - which meant that he was "back to the good side".

But why?

Originally he joined Orochimaru as he craved a greater power which he needed for... what was his motivation? To revenge his brother? Yeah, right.

Now that things have gone so far and Sasuke was "brought back" to the village, what would be his motivation this time?

What was behind those red Sharingan eyes, what was that he craved now?

Maybe to rebuild his clan?

Kakashi rubbed his earlobe form sweat. He was still missing what was wrong. With a sigh, Kakashi put the report on table and with one swift move, turned his desk lamp off.

That was exactly what he thought - to rebuild his clan. Yeah he thought so up until recent turn of events. That day on a mission, when Naruto slipped away to get drunk with Gaara and Sasuke being just passive-aggressive and with a time disappearing from radar, Kakashi was left with Sakura. She was as usual upset by the way Sasuke behaved. Once she mentioned that things were complicated between them, he couldn't stop thinking about it.

Wasn't Sakura his new goal? Wasn't he going to rebuild his clan? Weren't they dating? Wasn't Sakura in love with him all these years?

What scared Kakashi wasn't a private life of his students but rather a point that the most wanted ninja who was probably still being hunted was now in Konoha. Which, obviously, put into danger everyone else.

And even if so, if Sasuke's return home was for good, then why didn't he put any effort into becoming a great team with Naruto and Sakura?

They didn't work as a team. To Kakashi, there was no teamwork.

And Kakashi... he was a man of duty and honor. Complicated childhood and bizarre years of adolescence forced him to hide all his sensitive spots, feelings and emotions deep down into the Pandora box.

His life was operated by principles and conditions which he ought not to break. Each time when somebody tried to break it down to him and show that there was something greater than sense of duty and honor, Kakashi's mind registered it as an error in thinking of others. Obviously the only person who managed to "break it down" to Kakashi was Obito, who taught him a valuable lesson: never let your friends and comrades down.

After death of both Obito and Rin, the word "teamwork" is like a bible for Kakashi.

Moreover, Kakashi was a ninja, a person who is ought to have a great will and who dedicated his life for the sake of Konoha. And if teamwork was one of the crucial factors for Konoha's prosperity, he had to make sure that all Konoha shinobi worked together as a team.

Kakashi stood up from his chair to get ready for sleep. He made his way to the bathroom, took his masks and equipment off, opened the tap to keep the water running. Reflection in the mirror looked at him with a serious grimace - he was disturbed.

"Tomorrow", he said with confident voice and splashed some water on his face, rubbing the sweat away, preparing himself to go to sleep. "I will enlighten Lady Tsunade into this", he finished with a mumble and went to bed before his mind went totally crazy.

The sun was starting to go down when Kakashi stood infront of Hokage's building. One part of him insisted on going in and having a serious talk with Tsunade-sama. On the other hand, he wasn't sure whether his intentions were valid after all. How should he explain his thinking to Hokage? Which valid reasoning was behind this? He knew he couldn't just break-in there to his Hokage and shout out loud 'My team is not working together! And Uchiha may be first on the top of the list as the reason! What are his motives?! Our teamwork is falling apart!'. Nah that shit was too crazy.

Then how should he put it in words?

Even by the time Kakashi got to the Tsunade's door he couldn't come up with a proper start of a dialogue.

He sighed. Knock-knock-knock!

"Come in", a feminine voice yelled from the other side.

Kakashi twisted the door handle, and greeted Shizune with Tsunade.

"Hello Kakashi", Tsunade peeked behind the huge paperwork pile stacked up on her table, "What brings you here on a Thursday afternoon?".

"Tsunade-sama", Kakashi started, his eyes narrowed down as he plucked up the courage to spill out his thoughts. 'Hokage has a right to know how things are going with her subordinates', he thought. 'I am doing this for the sake of all Konoha shinobi, not just my team'.

"I have something to discuss with you", he continued, "and I am afraid, that, in the first place, it involves my team 7".

"Spill it out, Hatake", Hokage replied, her face became concerned and she crossed her fingers as she leaned forward on her table. "What is it?"

"I believe it also involves Sasuke Uchiha". He finally let it out.

Tsunade bit her lip. "I'm listening". She raised her eyebrow in anticipation.

Hokage's office was silent. Everybody in a room could feel as air became heavy, and no one dared to break the silence after Kakashi's 'monologue'.

"This is what I will say, Kakashi", Tsunade finally broke it.

Shizune looked at her master, tearing the her gaze off silver-haired man. What Kakashi just shared wasn't really a new topic to her. His thoughts and everything that he just told was actually discussed in the very same office before but with different people.

"I knew that one day, this topic would be brought up again", the Hokage stood up from her chair and turned to stand in-front of the huge window, facing peaceful view of Konoha. "After I have decided that it was time to let Team 7 reunite, many Kage's and shinobi rioted in protest".

She crossed her arms and continued, "Just imagine how many rogue ninja's were out there, the ones who were banished from their home villages for crimes and other ignoble deeds. They had to wander other lands and counties, until they heard of the infamous Uchiha Sasuke who was 'forgiven by his home village' because he distinguished himself by joining the Allied Forces and by his helpful activity during the Great Shinobi War. And while Sasuke was indeed working for the good of Konoha, it became such an inspiring and encouraging example for others but in a negative way. As soon as the word about Uchiha was spread, thousands of bandits have become emboldened and decided that the same way should work for them. They raided home villages demanding 'justice' and blackmailed landlords, stating that they are actually hero's who fought during the war and that they also deserve a place under the sun".

As no one in the room commented on this, she continued with a hum.

"One day I received a report, no... rather a statement from the Five Kage. Apparently the Five Kage were unable to control the raid's of rogue ninjas for some time, and in throes of aggression they have informed me that if Uchiha Sasuke would falter or misstep - the Five Kage Council would be forced to put him back into the Bingo Book", she uncrossed her arms.

"Lady Tsunade, what do you mean?"

"I mean that apparently Uchiha's ass brought even more troubles than we expected. Our village did a lot to help him get rid of his past - we accepted him back, greeted like he never left, although he tried to destroy Konoha and kill our comrades", she sighed, "and in addition, other countries are keeping an eye on him, watching each of his steps, trying to make sure that he won't shit himself again".

Tsunade sat back in her chair. Waving at Shizune to come closer.

"He's at the sharp end. If Uchiha poses a threat again", her tone was more confident now, "I have to be the first one to know about it. Otherwise, he is simply lost on a track of his life. If that's the case, then you Hatake are overthinking your 'teamwork' standards".

Kakashi's mind was processing stuff slower than usual. Shizune made it past him in a hurry, holding a thick pile of another set of papers.

"But because Sasuke is very valuable asset to Konoha", she explained, "And because he is too precious to lose". Tsunade reached out to Shizune's pile of papers.

"I am assigning you to a special, two-week long mission, Hatake", she continued, "I need you to figure out what's going on in his mind and how does he see his future", after a brief moment Tsunade added, "And yes, I'm sure Sakura might be in his plans too. You might want to start with her as she spent a lot of time with him". She signed a paper and put it aside, "In two weeks I need a report about Uchiha, Uzumaki and Haruno. You're dismissed", she angrily put a fresh stamp which said 'classified' on the paper blank.

Kakashi was lost in his thoughts now. His legs walked by themselves leaving Shizune with Tsunade alone. He stepped out of the office trying to understand what to do now. Or what to start with.

'You might want to start with Sakura, she might be in his plans'.

"Well then, off I go", he mumbled underneath his mask.

His trajectory took him to a part of town where Sakura lived, but once he arrived he surely didn't expect to see Ino at the front door and figuring out that two girls lived together. He also did not expect Ino welcoming him and inviting for a cup of tea.

Sakura woke up to a noise coming from the kitchen. She lazily and slowly opened her eyes, wishing the sounds wouldn't be so loud. At one point she gave up struggling and closed her eyes again.

"Forehead! Get up!"

Sakura's face squinted in response but she didn't have any intention on following the command.

"FOREHEAD!"

Sakura grumped and rolled over to another side of her bed. Ray of light sipping through an open window shone right at her eyes, and Sakura squinted again. Her grumping was followed by loud footsteps towards her room. The door squeaked open and Ino stood in the footstep.

"Morning forehead! I made you breakfast!", she said in a high-pitched tone and smiled devishly.

"Mmm argh", Sakura opened her eyes fully with annoyance, "what is it, Pig?!".

"I wonder if you could take my shift today at the hospital, it's a short one today, only couple of hours", Ino sang, "Pleeeeeaaaaassseeee".

Sakura denied her presence and wrapped herself in blankets. She covered her head so that the sun won't disturb her. It was her first day of a two-week holiday damnit!

"Sakura please!", Ino said angrily, "I still didn't choose a dress and I gotta pick up the present for tonight!"

Unwrapping her head from the blanket and peeking out with her eyes still half closed Sakura said, "What's going on tonight?!"

"Don't tell me you forgot!", Ino rolled her eyes, "Sai has birthday today, I reminded you a million times".

Oh right. About a month ago Sai got a bit too much enthusiastic and invited shitloads of people to his birthday party. Since Ino and Sai were seeing each other for around a year, Ino wanted to make sure she looked extra good tonight. They went to choose a dress multiple times a week ago but it seemed like work consumed too much time and energy to think or to do some prepping for the party.

Sakura gave in and muttered her agreement under her nose and finally got up from the bed to get ready for a hospital shift. As she made it past kitchen, Yamanaka was already putting her shoes on.

"I made you sunny side eggs with bacon-", Ino continued, "What you gonna wear tonight?"

"No idea Pig", Sakura sighed, "I don't have diverse options tho". Pink-haired girl locked the bathroom door behind herself and reached for the toothpaste.

"Don't worry about it, Forehead!", Yamanaka laced her other shoe, "I will get you a dress while you're working hard!". Ino laughed. She could hear her friend making grumpy noises from the other side of the door.

"This time I will get you a dress in which you'll look extra sexy", she waited for a couple of seconds, "I bet he won't be able to get his eyes off you for the entire night", Ino smirked as the bathroom door flew open a moment after.

"Who is it you're talking about?!", Sakura yelled with a blush on her cheeks.

"Oh so there IS someone you're having a crush on?"

"N-no Pig! It's none of your business!", Sakura angrily responded.

"And what's the matter with Kakashi asking me about you and Sasuke yesterday?", Ino winked at Sakura.

"W-what?", Sakura stumbled, "What did he ask?"

Ino looked up with her finger at a lip. "Well, before you arrived home, he came by and started asking whether you and Sasuke are a thing and I told him that you guys broke up", she replied, uncrossing her arms to continue packing her purse, "Although I didn't expect Kakashi to ask about details, it seemed like he was curious to know the reason behind it", she finished, and put on a jacket over herself.

Sakura blushed even more.

"But yeah, Forehead", Ino looked back at Sakura before leaving their apartment, "He asked me not to tell you".

"Tell me what?", Sakura was confused.

"That he was asking things about your and Sasuke's private life", Ino put the keys in her pocket and waved with her hand as a goodbye. "Don't let it in your head, Sakura, everyone in village is probably shocked that such a heartbreaker Sasuke didn't satisfy a girl in a relationship".

As the door shut tight behind Yamanaka, Sakura stood there with a toothbrush in her hand. It took her a couple of seconds to remember that she shouldn't lose the track of time and get ready for a hospital shift.

'Kakashi-sensei is so weird, why would he care about our private life?' Sakura pondered, 'Maybe there is some gossip in a town…?'

She proceeded to get ready as usual, this time talking to herself out loud, "What the fuck is wrong with people nowadays?!", she started to loose her temper, "What's so weird about people breaking-up?".

Sakura's mind couldn't find an answer. Why was Kakashi interested about their breakup?

Sakura blushed. 'Maybe he's… maybe he-…'

"NO!", Sakura shook her head, "I know that he is probably not…"

'Interested in me', her inner voice replied to herself.

By the time she nearly made it to hospital she was gloomy. Although it was a pretty sunny day, she wished it rained cats and dogs so she could stay at home in her warm blankets rejecting everyone's requests and just enjoying a holiday.

And yes, Tsunade seemed to be too generous about two-week holiday and Sakura knew that there probably was a reason, or better to say, there were hidden rocks; but Sakura felt blue and she didn't have any wish on figuring out what exactly it meant. For the first time in long while she just wanted to relax… with someone.

Her relationship with Uchiha had exhausted her. She wanted to experience a proper candy-bouquet period with a person she would fall in love, not just pokings at her earlobe and empty bed sheets in the morning after.

She wanted to experience a normal, or better to say, a regular relationship filled with romance.

Sakura was about to enter the hospital building as a familiar black-haired person came closer to her. Speaking of the devil!

"Morning, Sakura-chan".

"Morning, Sasuke-kun", Sakura waved with a forced smile, "Also coming to hospital?"

"Yes". Sakura could see that he didn't want to have this conversation. His answer was short and abrupt.

"It's not that often that we see you at a hospital, you know", she almost sounded as she's justifying herself for something, however she still tried to keep up the friendly tone, "can I help you?"

"No, Sakura", he opened a door for her. "I'm here to see Ino Yamanaka"

"Ah, well, I took her shift actually"

"Mmm", he eyed her as she walked past him, "then, I suppose I do need your help". The door behind them closed.

What both of them (probably) didn't notice, was Kakashi witnessing their conversation. He observed both of his teammates greet each other in a rather awful way, and making it inside the hospital.

Kakashi stood around the corner not too far away from the clinic entrance door, trying to figure out what are his next moves. He cursed under his breath and decisively turned around to walk away.

He knew that collecting data about his students was unethical, considering a fact that they were also his friends, but it was also part of a mission. The fact that Sakura and Sasuke were together at that moment gave courage for Kakashi to pursue spying on them.

But he couldn't do it. Yet.

It was only half an hour before the start of birthday party and girls were rushing in their apartment to get dressed. As promised, Ino brought a dress but Sakura was stubborn enough to wear something that short.

"Forehead, some teens wear even shorter shit and you in your 22 can't wear this dress?!", Yamanaka yelled.

"Pig, it's way too short!", Sakura yelled in return.

"Get the shit together, Sakura", her friend bursted, "you know that you look great in it!".

Sakura walked to the mirror again. There was no point denying that dress was perfect. It showed all her curves where needed, the black color did hide some spots that Sakura didn't like and gave a glimpse of Sakura's shoulders. It's playful style also encompassed short length, and that was disturbing the pink-haired kunoichi. She grabbed the dress from both sides with her hands and tried to pull it down. But once she let the grip go, it bounced back to its length and Sakura made a grumpy noise instead.

"Okay, whatever", she sighed.

"Oh yea, Forehead", Ino appeared in the door with a box in hands, "these should suit the look".

Sakura reached out for the box and carefully opened it. There were pink laced pumps with small heels. She looked at her friend with a grimace and yelled something about not wearing those tonight.

While Sakura was kept busy with dress and shoes, Kakashi landed on a tree next to their house. After long internal fight with his conscious he finally convinced himself to succumb to the order given to him. He had to keep an eye on Sakura. Then Naruto. And finally Sasuke. He hoped that the girls would discuss Uchiha's encounter at a hospital earlier that day, but apparently heels were more of importance.

Kakashi checked the time. He was also invited to a party. Maybe it was the right moment to go home and get changed for the birthday party? 'Good idea', he thought, 'there is no reason to monitor Sakura anyway'.

But just as Kakashi decided to leave, his eye noticed…

Kakashi turned his head and locked the gaze on Sakura.

She stood there completely naked, wearing nothing but her panties. As she took off Ino's black dress, her breasts bounced one after another, fleeing free from bra and tightening corset.

Oh this was so wrong! Kakashi knew he had to leave immediately but his eyes betrayed him and they traveled down from top to the bottom of Sakura.

As she moved around in her room, Kakashi had an opportunity to study her from different angles.

'How did she… when did she transform into a such a mature lady?', Kakashi thought and his legs refused to leave.

It was rather a surprising scenery after all. It was erotic.