I DO NOT OWN NARUTO.

Konoha's Deadly Blossom & Copy Cat
Chapter Two

"This man has come to us for protection on his journey." Tsunade began.

"Shishou, I mean no disrespect, but who is he?" Sakura asked.

Tsunade eyed the man - dissatisfaction evident on her face. "For the mission's purpose, he is the client, for all other – he is a rich man who wants to waste his money on Konoha's finest when a regular genin team would suffice."

"Now, now Hokage-sama…" the man began.

She cut him a glance and he shut his mouth. "We have discussed this. If you are going to insist on having them then you will pay for them. And Kami help you if something should arise and we really need them. If that should happen then I myself will retrieve them and you will be on your own." She said with finality.

"What are the mission parameters?" Sakura asked.

"You are to escort this man to and from his destination." Tsunade said with a bored tone.

"Are you serious?" Naruto asked. "The kids from the academy could do that?"

"Hai, I know." Tsunade said.

The man opened his mouth again but Tsunade held up her hand to cut him off.

"You caught me in a gracious mood today by me even allowing this. You must not understand the caliber of these ninja in front of you so I will clarify it for you. These three are the ones that I send when no one else can go in. Some of the missions that they have been on are not even recorded in our books. You are in the presence of my finest. Kakashi "The Copy Cat" Hatake, Sakura "The Deadly Blossom" Haruno and Naruto "The Second Yellow Flash" Uzumaki-Namikaze – do you understand?"

The man nodded with a harsh gulp. There was a wicked glimmer in his eyes that Sakura caught. Sakura caught the man's eye and glared at him. He quickly attempted to school his face but her quick eye caught it all. He was trying to pull something over on them and she would not stand for it.

"Shishou, I hope this client is full aware of what we are capable of." She said sending a quite threat at him. "And that we will only do what we are assigned to do by the Hokage, and will do nothing to dishonor our village or ourselves."

Tsunade quirked an eyebrow at her tone and Kakashi took his one eye off of his book and looked at the back of the pink haired woman. He knew that tone, something was off here. Naruto picked up on it too and glanced at Kakashi.

Tsunade looked back at the man, "Well?"

He swallowed hard again. "Hai, I understand."

"Good then, Team Seven leave us so we can discuss things further. You are to be at the gate tomorrow morning at 8:00am." She nodded to Sakura. "Dismissed."

- - xXxXx - -

Team Seven held their formation as they walked down the streets. When they were focused like this, they were a sight. They were all very intimidating to civilians. Naruto and Kakashi closed in the formation so they could speak to Sakura.

"What is it?" Kakashi asked.

"He's lying about something. I saw it in his eyes."

"What do you think he's hiding?" Naruto asked.

"I don't know. I guess we will just have to keep an eye on him tomorrow. Kami help his sorry ass when we figure it out."

"You seem a little pissed Sakura." Naruto added.

"I'm insulted. You should be too! That little creep up there thinks that he can pull this shit on us? He barked up the wrong damn tree."

"Seems like he wanted the power of the elite just not the brains." Kakashi rationalized.

"Then he must have not really wanted the elite." Naruto said.

"Fucking insulting." Sakura snapped.

"Sakura, calm down. He's just a moron who doesn't know what he's doing. Probably some nouveau crime boss who thinks he's capable of getting one up on us, clearly he's not. Let's just have some fun with this guy. Think of it as a vacation with weapons and a little violence." Kakashi reasoned. There was no way he wanted an angry Sakura.

"Well, when you put it that way… sounds fun." She smirked.

"Only you, The Deadly Blossom becomes excited at the possibility of violence."

"I'm a lover not a fighter." She said sarcastically.

"Sure you are." Kakashi chuckled.

'Wouldn't you both like to know?' Naruto thought to himself. 'I'm not stupid.' "So, we up for the usual pre-mission ritual tonight then?" 'Maybe in their drunken stupor they will say something.'

"You know it Naru." Sakura said brightly as she threw her arm around her two favorite guys.

"Let's kill some brain cells so we will be better prepared for the nouveau fat ass!" Naruto beamed enthusiastically. "Hinata's on a real mission so I'll be alone." He added the last part dejectedly.

"We can meet at my apartment before and go together. Naru, pack your stuff and you can crash on my couch tonight, so you won't be alone." She joked.

"Okay, Sakura. See you guys tonight!" Naruto said as he waved before he bounded away.

"Don't forget to leave Hinata a note saying you're going on a mission!" Sakura shouted after her blonde teammate.

Sakura and Kakashi walked down the road in silence for a moment. Sakura looked at him. He had his book out but clearly was not reading it.

"Okay, what's wrong with you?" she pushed.

"Nothing."

"I'm calling it. Bullshit. Kakashi I have known you for how long? I know when something is up… what is it?"

"A number of things."

"Spill, we have time."

Kakashi sighed. "Well, I don't know what to expect on this mission. I know it's not a big deal but I am trying to figure out what that guys deal is. You know I hate going into a mission blind – no matter how trivial, bad things could happen."

"Hai, I know. I don't like it either but what can we do?"

"Nothing for now." He conceded.

"So think about that later."

"It's not that easy."

"Look who you are talking too… I know that. But you have to at least try. You can't be all sulky tonight. I want to have some fun before we go. It's our tradition."

"Hai… I know but…" he started.

Sakura stopped and turned to face him. "Please Kakashi? For me?" She looked up at him and met his onyx eye with begging eyes.

Kakashi gulped hard and crinkled his eye. "For you."

She beamed up at him with a victorious grin. She knew that always worked on both Naruto and Kakashi. But she felt bad about it this time. It seemed a little different. She just shrugged it off and started walking.

"So… we are on a roll. What's next?" she continued.

"Next? I don't follow."

"You said there were a number of things that were bothering you. Fat ass was number one… there has to be more for it to be a number of things."

Kakashi wouldn't speak. He just kept walking. Sakura looked at him, slightly unnerved at the lack of answers coming from her teammate.

"Seriously… I can't take you when you are like this. What's the matter?"

'Obviously I can't tell her about what I have been thinking since it's so odd. But I could always have a little fun with her about it. You know test the waters and all…' His visible eye saddened.

"Well… you see there is this guy that I am kind of jealous of."

"Seriously? Girl issues?" Sakura slouched. 'I don't mind talking to Naruto about him and Hinata but I have never been one to enjoy Kakashi girl talks. It just irks me.'

"Well you wanted to know."

"That I did. I have brought it upon myself…so what's up?"

"Well, you see, she asked this guy to sleep on her couch tonight and I didn't get an invite. I feel left out, like she doesn't like me as much."

Sakura looked at Kakashi and laughed. "Sorry, Kakashi… there is just my bed and the couch… and Naruto has the couch."

"So what's wrong with your bed?" Kakashi asked seriously.

"Nothing, I am in it."

"You can't share?"

"You're joking right?" she asked.

"Maybe… maybe not." He said slyly. 'Truer than she knows.'

Sakura started laughing. "Oh that's good! You are getting me back for at your apartment… you are good Kakashi! I give it to you… you win this one."

Kakashi closed the distance and whispered in her ear. Finding the silkiest voice he could muster, "Just think about it." He pulled out his orange book and disappeared in a whirl of leaves.

Sakura stood there for moment thinking about what he had just said to her. She looked around to see if anyone could have seen that, just so they could clarify it for her. She was confused. 'I thought we were just joking with each other, but he didn't sound like he was joking just now. Or has he gotten that good? Damnit! Its times like this that I wish Ino didn't have such a big mouth!' Sakura stalked off back towards her apartment. She had some thinking and packing to do.

- - xXxXx - -

Sakura had gotten to her apartment as quickly as she could. She threw herself on the couch and stared at the ceiling. She glanced at the wall of pictures and bit her lip. There were pictures ranging from when she was born until now. Twenty-two years of her history were on that wall. There were pictures of her with her parents, Team Seven's first photo together and there were pictures of her and her teammates now – sitting at their favorite bar drunk and smiling.

Her eyes lingered just a little longer on a picture of her and Kakashi. It had been taken after her first mission as a jônin. Naruto had gone on an intel mission with Jiriaya and it had been just the two of them that night. As she thought back to that night a few years ago, she couldn't put her finger on it but they seemed a lot friendlier to each other. 'Was it the liquor?' She thought. 'No. We only had like two drinks. Maybe there has been a little underlying thing there for a while and neither of us had noticed? I don't know but it's weird…' A sudden banging on the door snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Who is it?" She asked as she approached the door before peeping into the peep hole. She rolled her eyes at the blonde mess that was in her door. Sakura opened the door to let Naruto in. "Naru… you didn't have to come so early…" she looked for his pack. "Did you even pack?"

"Hai." He said as he removed a scroll from his pouch and placed it on the table.

"I will never get use to you sealing…no matter how good you are."

"Have you packed yet?" he asked.

"No, I just got home."

"Oh. On a romantic stroll with Kakashi?"

"No! Naru… that's just…"

"Save it… I'm not saying that you two are hiding something from me. I think it's more you are hiding it from yourselves."

"Say what?"

"There has been a slightly – albeit steady – increase in the tension between you two."

"Tension? As in sexual tension?"

"Bingo." Naruto said as tapped the end of his nose with his index finger. "You are only becoming aware of it now… but I picked up on it a few years ago."

"When?" she said as she cast her eyes at that picture of her and Kakashi sitting really close and smiling.

"Well, after you became a jônin." He followed her eyes. "Yep, right around that time." He motioned with his head.

Sakura sat there and stared at the picture and then turned her attention to the blonde sitting on the couch. Over the last few years that had become even closer and she saw him as a brother, but now that she thought about it, she never saw Kakashi as a brother. He was just Kakashi.

"Have you said anything to Kakashi?" she asked suddenly curious.

"Nope."

"Will you?"

"Haven't decided yet."

"Then why are you talking to me about it?"

"Sakura, you are like a sister to me… and Kakashi the older brother I never wanted. But the thing is… I am a little more protective over my sister than my brother. Does that make sense?"

Sakura nodded.

"I'm not saying that you can't take care of yourself… I know you are more than capable. And I am also not saying anything to turn you away from the idea of him… in all actuality; I think you two would sort of go well together."

"How do you figure that?"

"You're the only one who can put up with his shit without killing him." Naruto smiled. "But I don't know how he really feels so just be careful. Like I said, I don't want to see my sister hurt."

"You really think so?" Sakura said with a hint of hope in her voice.

"Possibly."

'I have butterflies in my stomach! I haven't felt anything remotely like this since I was a genin. But its Kakashi… what if it wouldn't work out? I couldn't not have him in my life – would that break up our team? My Family?' She looked at the newest team picture.

"Naru?"

"Hai?"

"What if it didn't work? I'd lose my family."

"No you wouldn't. No matter what happens, you can't lose us. We're each other's family too you know. The three orphans – the three amigos."

"But you have Hinata…"

"Hai, I do and I love her… but she didn't grow up like us. She always had some sort of family around her. That is why we are the team that we are. We are more than just teammates."

"Thank you. You know you are pretty good at this advice stuff."

"Hai… I am wise beyond my years."

"Heh, I wouldn't go that far." Sakura said as she tossed a pillow at Naruto. "Time to pack."

"Time to eat!" Naruto said just as his stomach growled.

"You know where everything is… and you know where the take out menus are. Make yourself at home Naru." She called out from her room.

- - xXxXx - -

The day turned quickly into night. Sakura had packed for the mission and took a shower in order to prepare for the night. She was thankful the Naruto was there – he was always a good distraction. She tried her best not to dwell on anything related to the butterflies and that had almost gone away.

She and Naruto sat dressed and waiting for the infamous late ninja to make his appearance. This too had become part of their tradition – waiting. The three had long ago begun their family tradition of going out together the night before the left for a mission. If they were going to be gone for any amount of time, no matter the mission, they celebrated each other in the chance that one of them may not return.

Sakura sat on the right side of the couch with her feet propped up drinking a beer along with Naruto who was on the left side of the couch. She had opted to change her shirt but keep her black pants and sandals on. It was a new shirt, black with her family crest in crimson. She always dressed for comfort; she was a ninja not a princess. Naruto was of the same mind, for going the ninja gear; he kept his clothing the same. When they went out, they all left their vests at home. Even though they were ninja and that idea never left their minds, they went out on these nights as family – not teammates.

Knock. Knock.

"Yo! Let me in."

"It's open Kakashi." Sakura yelled back.

He opened the door with a crinkled eye. He was only thirty minutes late but he knew that they would be waiting like they always do.

"You started drinking without me. I'm feeling increasing left out these days." He said as he looked at Sakura.

Sakura shot a quick glance to Naruto and he smiled at her.

"Well, if you were quicker than you wouldn't get left out Kakashi." Sakura replied coolly. "You know where the beers are… grab one before we go."

Kakashi nodded and walked off to the kitchen. Sakura looked back at Naruto.

"What the hell is that?" she whispered to him.

"I don't know!" he whispered back.

"I can't tell if he's joking or if he's serious! You?"

"No."

Naruto looked back to where Kakashi was standing entering the room.

"So are we ready to go?" Naruto asked.

Kakashi eyed his beer. He had just opened it. "Um, not really. Can't I finish my beer?"

"Chug." His teammates said in unison.

"Are you trying to get me drunk?" he said eyeing Sakura as he pulled his mask down and brought the beer to his lips to drink.

"She's not, but I am." Naruto said with a stupid smirk. "Hinata's gone and I am lonely. Want to share Sakura's couch with me?"

Kakashi choked on his beer. "What?"

"Then maybe you wouldn't feel so left out." He said laughing as he stood.

Sakura laughed as set her beer down. She stood to stretch, reaching towards the ceiling. She brought her arms back down and adjusted her shirt that had slightly risen to show a glimpse of her toned peachy stomach – which didn't go unnoticed by Kakashi. 'Kami help me, this is going to be one hell of a night.'

"Shall we gentlemen?"

"Hai." Kakashi said as he sat his empty beer bottle down. "I got the door."

Naruto and Sakura made their way out the door and down the stairs as Kakashi glanced back around her apartment one more time. He looked over all the pictures that were on the wall. There was a good ten years of his history plastered on her wall and the thought off that made him smile a little. 'Maybe this won't be as bad as I am thinking it will be.' He thought as he shut the door and started to follow.

He watched as Sakura and Naruto talked animatedly amongst each other. His eye trailed down Sakura's slim form and settled on her butt. He watched the subtle sway of her hips and thought, 'Not so bad at all.' He picked up his pace and caught up. He put his arms around the two's shoulders.

"Missed me?"

"Like a terd misses toilet paper." Naruto said with a huge grin.

"Naru! How the hell does Hinata put up with you? That was disgusting!" Sakura fussed.

Naruto just laughed. Kakashi let his hold on Naruto go as the blonde made it through the door first. He waited to see if Sakura would pull away out of curiosity. She pulled in tighter so they could walk through the door together and then looked up to see his crinkled eye. She playfully elbowed him in the ribs.

"You know the drill… first rounds on you since you were late."

She ducked out of his grip and wandered to the back where their table was. He watched her form disappear from his sight and wished she would have stayed. He sighed when he heard Lee's loud greeting over the noise of the bar. 'This should be fun.'

It wasn't really their table but it was as good as. It was the place where they always sat in the corner. There were three tables that sat near each other and their friends claimed the other two. Kakashi held the drinks above his head as he meandered through the masses. Kakashi found Naruto and handed him his beer and went to hand over Sakura's when he noticed that Lee was sitting next to her. For a moment, he wanted to snatch one of the creature like forms that grew on his face but reined it in when Sakura's face briefly lit up when she saw him approaching.

"Thanks Kakashi!" she beamed.

"More than welcome." He leaned against the wall since Lee was sitting in his normal place. "Umm… Lee?"

"Hai, Kakashi-san?" Lee turned around.

"I think I saw Gai over at the pool tables looking for someone to play a game or two, but sadly there is no one who is…youthful… enough to challenge him."

"I must go Sakura-chan." He said as he grabbed her hand and kissed it before dashing off to the pool tables.

Kakashi laughed as he sat down next to her. He took one of the napkins that were on the table and wiped the condensation off his bottle. He took Sakura's hand in his and wiped the kiss off. She took a swig of beer and looked at Kakashi's hand holding hers. Sakura shook her head and smiled.

"Did you just lie to him so you could hold my hand?"

"Something like that." He replied. He looked in to Sakura's eyes and laughed. "Well, Gai really is over at the tables but he wasn't challenging people. But when Lee says something they will challenge each other. So it's a win win all around for all parties."

Sakura bumped Kakashi with her shoulder, "I have never taken you for the jealous type Kakashi."

He just shrugged his shoulders and kept drinking his beer. 'I'm usually not the jealous type when it comes to other women – just you.'

-End of Chapter-