Chapter 18: Yukata

Naruto and Sasuke walked down the circular hallway towards Tsunade's office. "What do you think she wants?" Naruto asked the Uchiha prodigy.

"Beats me." Sasuke responded impassively. The past few days were filled with how he was going to kill Kakashi and Sakura. Itachi was supplying him with many ideas, some gruesome, while others were less sickening. Naruto, however, spent most of his time trying to figure out how he will pop the question to Hinata.

The two ANBU nins arrived at the 5th's office. Naruto knocked on the door. "Come in." They heard Tsunade call. Sasuke opened the door and walked in, Naruto right behind him. The blonde Sannin had her hands folded on her desk with her chin resting on top. "I have an ANBU rank mission for you both. Naruto grinned with delight. Sasuke stared impassively. She tossed a scroll to each. After unraveling the scrolls, both jounins read in shock.

"They've got the all the hidden villages in on this?" Naruto exclaimed.

"Why did he kill that daimyo?" Sasuke asked.

"It was a mission assigned to him back when he was just started his ANBU career. He was only 3 years younger than you two are now," Tsunade began, "I have spoken to the kages of the neighboring villages and only Sand has agreed to ignore the bounty." Naruto crushed the scroll in his palm. Gaara, he thought, at least there is one sane person in this world.

"What are the mission objectives." Sasuke asked.

"You are to catch up with Kakashi and Sakura. Do not let them know that they are being protected. Though I have the utmost confidence in Kakashi's ability, shinobis from 12+ hidden villages can even overwhelm the Copy Nin. Your job is to take out the enemies before they attack him. Their mission is to find out what's going on in Lightning Country. This was not part of it so I don't expect them to have to deal with it. And besides," Tsunade added, "I'd like to see them back here. They are two of our best nins after all, next to you two." Naruto grinned widely. Sasuke still looked impassive. Though he kept a stoic face, his thoughts were churning up new ideas. This will be easier now with this new mission. Sasuke thought.

Call it a blessing in disguise little brother. Itachi commented.

"Dismissed!" Tsunade ordered.

Kakashi and Sakura continued down the path towards Yukata. Sakura was observing the trees around her, and admiring the beauty of the fire country. Kakashi had his nose in his porn, but was sneaking glances at the pink haired kunoichi standing next to him. He couldn't help it. He wanted her so badly but she wasn't of legal age yet. Sakura Felt the exact same feeling, but refrained from looking at the silver haired jounin's toned physique.

Sakura moved closer to Kakashi and linked her arm around his. Kakashi gladly obliged, but did not lift his eyes from his book. Finally, he thought to himself, somebody to spend the rest- His mind came to a screeching halt. Tsunade. He thought. The village. What would they think of us being together?? Kakashi slid his arm from Sakura's grip. She looked up puzzled. "What's the matter?" She asked. Kakashi stopped and sighed, putting his book back into his pocket.

"Sakura, have you thought about how the village will react to this?"

"I thought you didn't care about that."

"I didn't, until I realized that it will be a huge factor in our relationship. Obviously we cannot keep it a secret forever. Sooner or later word is going to get out, and Tsunade will not take it kindly. Not in the slightest."

Sakura crossed her arms across her chest. "So what are you saying then? You want to dump me?" She asked angrily.

"No that's not what I mean-"

"Then what do you mean Kakashi-sensei?" She put emphasis on the honorific. Kakashi sighed and looked down at the ground. Sakura picked up her pack and walked towards town. Kakashi continued and tried to walk alongside the medic nin but she would walk faster. He tried to put his arm around her shoulder but she shrugged it off.

"Sakura-"

"Don't even try." She interrupted. It was a quiet walk to the town, filled with awkward moments between the two nins. Sakura was furious at what she just heard. I can't believe him! First he says things like he loves me and doesn't care what anyone else thinks, but now he's saying that he does care! What's wrong with him?

"That's men for you." Inner Sakura boasted. And that's putting it lightly Sakura retorted. She shot an evil glare at Kakashi who just caught up with her.

"Don't forget to book separate rooms in Yukata." Sakura spat. Kakashi nodded his head slowly.

"Hai, hai." He replied. Something caught Kakashi's attention from behind him. He turned around caught the kunai heading his way. Sakura turned to see what was wrong and saw Kakashi's sharingan exposed.

"What is it?" She asked. He jumped off towards the kunai source. "Hey I'm talking to you!" Sakura yelled jumping after him. The Copy Nin rushed towards the source. So much chakra! He thought. Then, almost instantly, it was gone. He jumped faster, his heart pounding. He charged a rasengan in his right hand. When he got to the spot, his eyes went wide. A dead body was on the terrain; his eyes white, and with three giant gashes in his chest, and a round burn mark in his stomach. The man's hia-ate showed that he was from the Hidden Village of Mist. Kakashi looked around. Who did this?

Sasuke and Naruto rushed through the trees, trying to catch up with Kakashi's 2 day headstart. "You think we'll make it in time?" Naruto asked.

"Definitely," Sasuke responded, "If I know Kakashi, it's that he'll always take the long route and that he'll always take his time." Naruto shrugged in agreement. His only thoughts were on his best friend, Sakura, and what her condition would be if he didn't get there in time. Sasuke had both nins on his mind, except his thoughts revolved around death. Just a lil more time, and I'll be able to kill them. Saskue thought to himself.

"Just think of it little brother," Itachi started, " You will be rid of your closest friends, and you will be all powerful." Sasuke's mind came to a halt. No he thought.

"What?" Itachi inquired.

I am nothing like you. And I will never gain power the way you did.

"Stop being such a coward, Sasuke."

Shut up and stay out of my thoughts. Sasuke ordered. His sharingan was exposed and he was using all of his force to shut him away.

"What are you doing?" Itachi growled.

A prison formed around Itachi, which slowly drained his energy, and he started to lose conciousness. "You can't keep me here forever little brother…" Itachi wearily said, and passed out.

Sasuke's regained focus of the trees and regained his initial velocity. "Sasuke!" Naruto called, "We've got company." Ahead of them, there was a nin ready to throw a kunai in a general direction. He must be after Kakashi Sasuke thought. He charged a chidori and with God like speed, plunged it threw the nin's stomach. The nin recoiled and pulled out a Fuma Shuriken. Naruto activated his Kyuubi chakra and lashed out to the nin. The Kyuubi chakra slashed through his chest, leaving three gash marks. The nin's eyes turned to the back of his head, and he flopped onto the ground. Kyuubi Naruto's fangs bared at the dead nin's corpse.

"Time to go Naruto." Sasuke said firmly, sharingan ablaze looking towards the west. "Kakashi's coming." The ANBU shinobi disappeared from sight, masking their chakra. Kakashi arrived moments later only to be surprised.

"Kakashi-sensei what's with you?" Sakura demanded jumping into the scene. She looked down and saw the dead nin. "Oh my God." She exclaimed.

"He tried to kill me, but somebody else got to him." Kakashi said slowly. He analyzed the burn mark in his chest. Lightning…possibly cloud nin he concluded. Kakashi stood up and walked North.

"Hey, hey!" Sakura called, "Where are you going now?"

"Yukata is just a mile away. Kakashi said over his shoulder. Sakura straightened herself up and followed the Copy Nin. She kept a fair distance, because she was still angry at him. Kakashi pulled out his book and continued reading. Heartless bastard Sakura said to herself, He just wanted to read his porn.

I shouldn't have brought it up Kakashi said to himself, behind his orange book. The two continued along the path North. About a half an hour later, the Konoha shinobi arrived in the town of Yukata. It's streets were lined with inns and shops. The Broadway busteled with tourists, most of which were incredibly wealthy. Children ran around with masks on of different animals. Sakura looked around as if she were a child again. Wow! She thought to herself. Kakashi kept his gaze forward as he walked between crowds of people. He looked for an inn that didn't look too expensive. They came across a run down old Inn/Pub. It was called The Pink Brassiere. Sounds like Jiraiya-sama's type of place. Kakashi said to himself. He walked inside, Sakura following him. The customers were all men, each drunk and surrounded by young women. Kakashi walked to the counter. "Two rooms please." He said to the host.

The host of the shop was a sleazy type of man. He wore a shocking pink suit with a carnation in his pocket, and his bleached blonde hair was slick back. His hair was literally marbled over with gel. His mustache was twisted at the ends in a looping pattern. "Certainly sir!" He said in a rich boasting fashion. The host turned around and checked his books. He turned to Kakashi again. "Oooo I'm sooo sorry but it looks like we only have one room left." Sakura bowed her head. SHIT! She screamed mentally.

"We'll take it." Kakashi responded. Sakura gave the Copy Nin a death glare. The man hopped up and grabbed the room keys.

"Right this way sir, and madam." He bowed flamboyantly to an angry Sakura. The nins followed the pink clad host up three flights of stairs to their floor. The walls were lined with dinky lights and faded wood. The host stopped at room number 312, and opened the door with the brass key. He stepped out of the way to let the Konoha Nins through. Kakashi stepped in first and observed the dim room. Everything looked very old and worn. There was one king sized in the middle of the room with plain white sheets and 4 pillows. It was the only thing that looked welcoming in the room.

"Home sweet home." He muttered under his breath. Sakura stepped in next and was mortified at how everything looked.

"Would there be anything else for you two lovebirds?" The sleazy host cooed. Sakura shot a death glare at the man.

"Nope thank you very much." Kakashi quickly said taking the keys and closing the door on the host. Sakura rushed over to an empty corner in the room and set down her bags. She pulled out her sleeping bag and unrolled it. She forcefully began to remove her clothes and setting them aside in neat piles. "Sakura, you can take the bed if you want." Kakashi said softly.

"I'm fine here thank you." She snapped. Kakashi sighed and dropped his bag next to his bed. He laid down and put his arm over his eye.

"You going shopping later?" He asked.

"Mind your own business." Sakura spat. That's It! Kakashi screamed in his mind. He sat up and glared at the pink haired girl.

"What the hell is your problem??" Kakashi demanded.

"The fact that you fear showing affection of me in public! All of a sudden you care about what Tsunade and the others have to say about us?" Sakura was on the verge of tears, "I thought you loved me." Kakashi's heart sank into the Abyss. He leapt off the bed and held Sakura's arms.

"Of course I love you Sakura," He said softly, "I just don't know what will happen if things went out in the open." He pulled her into an embrace. Her arms went up on their own to embrace him back. She sobbed into his shoulder.

"Don't leave me," Sakura whispered, "don't you ever leave me."

"I'll never leave you Sakura," he responded, " I promise." He broke off the embrace and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Sakura asked worried. Kakashi stopped and turned around with his eye in a half circle.

"To the shops," he replied, "There was something there I thought you might like." Sakura smiled and continued organizing her belongings. Kakashi turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. He walked down the steps and into the lobby. He walked up to the host who was busy polishing his finger nails. "Excuse me," the host straightened up and gave his widest smile, "Where can I find the Tatewake Tea shop?" The host's smile dropped instantly. A look of shock came over his face.

"North 17 shops and on the left." He whispered.

"Thank you!" Kakashi said and left. The streets were just as busy as he walked down counting the shops as they went by. Goods ranging from fruit to face powder were being sold left and right. Kakashi caught sight of a weapon's shop with a pink wakizashi. That's what I'll get for her he noted. When he reached the 17th shop, he found the teashop. It was white and 7 stories high. The Copy nin walked through the front curtain and watched as the customers turned their heads to see who had come in. All looked like high class officials. They sneered at Kakashi's jounin attire. His gaze however, was locked onto a man in the back with a white porcelain mask on. He walked straight to the man and sat down at his table.

"It's been a while," the man greeted, "Kakashi senpai."

"Good to see you too." The man removed the mask, to reveal the ANBU captain Yamato.

"What can I do for you?"

"I need information," Kakashi responded, "On Yusuke Tanaka, the daimyo of Lightning Country."

"I see," he said setting down his glass, "So you need to know why the Raikage wants your head." Kakashi was puzzled.

"Not the Raikage, Yusuke Tanaka."

"Kakashi senpai, they are the same person." Kakashi's eye went wide.

"Yusuke-sama….Raikage???I