Hey… Sorry for making you all wait so terribly long for an update. I was out of idea's and now, just two days before my vacation, my muse has returned to me. I would've loved to give you all a long chapter, but I'm short on time and thought I should really update all of my stories. Hope that it's worth it.

Chapter 13: Ino's analysis

"You know for someone that doesn't wants to be married to Kakashi you sure have a lot of sex together," Ino mused.

Sakura's face took on the same color as her hair. "It was you who told me that I should look at things on the bright side," Sakura snapped. "And….. He is pretty persuasive."

"I knew it!"

"Know what, Pig?"

"You actually like Kakashi-sensei," Ino said with a big smirk on her face.

"What!? No!"

Ino kept her smiling face. It was written all over Sakura's face. Even if she was making a good effort to hide it, Ino knew her friend better then anyone else. It was only a matter of time before Sakura would realize it herself.

Sakura sighed. "Kakashi is just a friend," she persisted. "Nothing more."

"Oh so you did Naruto and Sai too then?" Ino retorted.

Sakura glared at her blonde friend. "Well, no," she answered softly. "It's not the same thing."

"It's not," Ino agreed. "You're married to Kakashi."

Sakura sighed again. "It's not like I wanted to."

"Quit complaining," Ino said sternly. "Do you have any idea how many women envy you right now?"

Sakura shook her head.

"Every single woman in Konoha envies you," Ino pressed on. "You are married to Konoha's most desired bachelor."

Sakura shrugged. "They can have him."

"Admit it," Ino said. "He's exactly as gossip describes him."

"Better," Sakura muttered.

"Better how?" Ino asked.

Sakura sighed dreamily. "A gentlemen, considerate, sweet."

"I smell a girl in love."

"Shut up pig!"

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Genma had overheard the conversation between Ino and Sakura. It was everything he could've hoped for his best friend. The man had been through enough misery in his life and he deserved to be happy. All he had to do know was ask Kakashi about his opinion on the matter. Though, Genma knew almost for sure that Kakashi didn't really care about things like a marriage certificate. He just wanted simple things, like reading his favorite novel and occasionally feel the sweet skin of a woman. That was who Kakashi really was. However, not many people knew him as good as Genma did.

Genma stopped right outside of Kakashi's door. He took a moment to collect himself and not laugh as Kakashi would open the door. That wouldn't be very nice. Genma took one very deep breath and knocked on the door. It took a few minutes before Kakashi opened the door, dressed in only some sweatpants and his mask.

"Genma?" Kakashi said mildly surprised to see him there. "What?... Why are you here? You usually sleep till noon."

Genma smiled. "Just wanted to see how you are after last night."

"Fine," Kakashi said. "Why do I get feeling that that's not why you're here?"

Genma chewed on his senbon. "Am I correct in saying that you may have actually found yourself a girl that you like?"

Kakashi looked at his friend through his one opened charcoal eye. He knew Genma always tried to get him a girl that fit with his personality, but they all grew sick of him after a few weeks. They always told him how they hated his lack of interest in what they did. Seemed that Sakura liked that kind of freedom. If she wanted to go out on her own, he wouldn't make a fuss. It was weird, like most women were just looking for something to argue about. "Maybe," Kakashi answered.

Genma smiled brightly. "I knew it," he said. "I have found you the perfect girl."

"Actually," Kakashi corrected. "Tsunade found her, not you."

"Details, details."

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Tsunade folded her fingers into each other and leaned her chin on the back of her hands. She was thinking and the outcome of her brainstorm could well decide the fate of Konoha. It was never an easy job being Hokage, but someone had to do it. That someone was Tsunade and right now she was wishing that she hadn't let Jiraiya talk her into it. "You're sure he's not a threat?"

Ibiki nodded, his face serious. "He keeps going on about not being able to restore his clan whilst in captivity."

Tsunade closed her eyes. There was no denying that the Uchiha's bloodline limit would be a valuable tool for Konoha's shinobi. Kakashi had proven that more then once. How many times had that sharingan of his delayed a certain appointment with the Grim Reaper? Probably more times then Tsunade could count. "I want surveillance on him," Tsunade said. "Around the clock. If he farts I want to know. If he as much as wiggles his big toe, I want to know. Got it?"

"Yes Lady Hokage."

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"You know what Pig?" Sakura said. "I'm going to prove to you that you're wrong."

Ino laughed loudly. "How?"

"We're going out!" Sakura said enthusiastically. "Tonight!"

"But first some shopping," Ino said. "And this time I'll pick the dress."

"It's a deal," Sakura said.

Ino smirked. She was pretty sure that she was right in her assessment that Sakura was in love with Kakashi, no matter how much she tried to hide it. This would be a fun game to watch.

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The sun shone bright, brighter then usual, or so it seemed. The dark dungeons deep beneath Konoha let little light in, so it took a little getting used to. A hand was raised to block the rays of the sun. One goal was left, one person needed to be found and convinced. Sakura would belong to him. She was the only one worthy of having his offspring. The only konoichi strong enough to pass the qualification for the restoration of his clan. "Sakura."

:raises hands in defense:

I know, I know…. Much too short. Sorry. I've been stuck so long… Been out of ideas and now one has finally hit me, but I don't have the time to make this into a long chapter. I had intended to make this the last chapter, but it took me so long to update that I'm splitting it in two. So the next update will be the final chapter. I promise that this will be the first story I'll update after returning from my vacation.

I guess all that's left to say is: please review. They are what keeps me going with a story. I really hope that this chapter was worth the read, though I doubt it myself.

A hint for the next chapter.

"I love you," Sakura said.

Next chapter: Sakura's choice