There were only a couple of days left until Kakashi and Sakura left for their mission, so it was probably about time he paid Naruto a visit. If he wasn't back from his own mission yet, it wouldn't do any harm for him to take a long, cool shower in his former student's apartment. He didn't feel like running to the convenience store for new shampoo or soap since he'd run out yesterday anyway.

Everything the same as it was the last time he'd popped by. The plants were slowly dying, no doubt from the stagnant heat being trapped in the room from a lack of air circulation. Kakashi immediately headed to the bathroom, not bothering to close the window or fold his clothes as he threw them onto the bed, then ran some cold water without so much as a glance at the unfortunate showerhead.

He shivered as water hit the back of his head like ice, trickling over his scalp and down his back. It felt deliciously good after the oppressively humid day the entirety of Konoha had been suffering through, even if it was making his skin feel impossibly tight. The sensation reminded him of the odd discomfort, usually manifesting physically, that had been plaguing him since Tsunade had delivered her news to him, and he wondered fleetingly if it would ever dissipate.

He'd just finished washing his hair, the overwhelming scent of honeysuckle assaulting his delicate sense of smell, when he was alerted to a more familiar feeling—someone's chakra, unmistakably and uniquely strong, was close.

Kakashi couldn't see much through the thick fabric of the shower curtain, but he heard the squeaky door being swung open.

"WHO'S THERE?!" came the scream, their feet squeaking against the tile. "I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!"

"Naruto, it's me." Perhaps Kakashi had gone temporarily deaf, but his voice seemed far quieter in comparison.

"Oh. What are you doing in my shower?"

"Showering." Body wash lathered as he spread it over the top of his chest. "Nice showerhead, by the way."

"Heh. Thanks." The toilet lid made a clanging sound as Naruto sat on top of it. "It lights up, too!"

Phallic, completely bizarre, and now a health hazard. Nice. Naruto was really outdoing himself.

"It's uh…cute." He rinsed off for a silent moment. "You just get back in town?"

"Yeah. That mission was boring as hell, sensei. You would've loved it."

"You're probably right." A wry smile touched his mouth. Naruto must've been hell to deal with on ANBU missions—stealth, subtlety, and self-awareness were hardly his strong points.

"When did you get back from your mission? You were gone for a kinda long time." Kakashi finished up and turned off the water, and he could instantly hear Naruto crunching on something. Probably the same animal crackers he'd snacked on last time he was here.

"A few weeks ago." He wrapped a towel around the lower part of his face after scrubbing it through his hair, then dried off with another. "It's been pretty boring around here, too, so you didn't miss much."

"Yeah, but I would've had a much better time here than in the middle of nowhere, doing nothing."

He chuckled. Some things never changed. "If you're so bored, you should come with me when I head out in a few days."

"Wait, really?" Naruto's burst of enthusiasm was nearly palpable. "Where are you going?"

"Tsunade's sending me and Sakura out for some diplomatic work for a few months. Want to come?" Kakashi knew the answer before he asked, of course, but Naruto's reaction would be no less entertaining.

"Do I!" Naruto exclaimed emphatically. "But—"

The second the curtain was pushed aside, however, he was visibly disappointed.

"What?" Kakashi mumbled from behind the thick cloth.

"I was—aw, never mind." He sullenly searched the box for more crackers, crumbs falling from his mouth when he frowned.

"Hoping I wouldn't have a mask on?" Mindful of wet spots on the floor, Kakashi stepped out of the shower. Heat was already filtering in through the open bathroom door and it warmed the cool droplets on his skin. So much for relief. "Sorry, kid. Maybe one day."

"God," Naruto said out of the blue, apparently awed at something Kakashi had done, eyes glancing down at his naked torso. "You're fuckin' ripped, dude."

"Uh, thanks." He suddenly felt the need to cover himself so he made his way toward the bedroom to retrieve his clothes.

"No, I mean," Naruto said around a mouthful of food, "I just wasn't expecting that. You always have, like, fifty layers on. You got a hot bod, sensei."

He could practically hear the kid's eyebrows wiggling. Kakashi laughed to himself, replacing his mask and pants while he was still alone. "So do you, Naruto."

There was a second of silence before he got his reply. "Eww. No. This is weird. Just pretend I didn't say anything."

Now fully dressed, he returned to the bathroom to comb his hair, though it would be a fruitless attempt to tame the wild silver nest. He found Naruto grimacing, chewing slowly and a little red-faced.

"Don't dish it out if you can't take it, Naruto-kun," he chirped.

"Remind me not to compliment you if you're gonna be all creepy," Naruto mumbled.

"Duly noted." The comb caught a pretty nasty tangle, making him wince. "Anyway, do you want to come on the mission or not?"

"Hell yeah!" The earlier enthusiasm returned in an instant. "I gotta ask Sai first, though."

This definitely threw Kakashi off. "Of all people, why would you need to ask Sai?"

Naruto looked at him like he was the biggest idiot in the world before a little doubt creeped in, an expression highly reminiscent of one he used frequently with Sasuke in their genin days. "…Because he's the director of ANBU? I'm not supposed to do anything like this until he approves it, unless Tsunade-baa-chan comes and drags me out of headquarters herself or something."

Well, there was that, but the fact that Naruto was following the rules confused him even more than Sai's position in all of this.

"Since when do you ask for permission for anything?" He gave up on his hair and tossed the comb in the sink, turning to lean against its edge. "If memory serves me right, you never listened to your poor old sensei."

"Yeah, but that was when I was twelve," Naruto said, pouring the last of the cookies into his mouth. Kakashi raised a very skeptical eyebrow at him. "Whmph?!"

"Not much has changed." Kakashi casually stepped away and out of the bathroom again, sensing Naruto trailing directly after him.

"What'd you say? I was chewing."

"Never mind." No use in getting him riled up, he figured.

"Oh. 'Kay." Naruto just shrugged and skipped over to his chest of drawers, grabbing shorts and a shirt with the sleeves cut off. "I'm gonna shower too. I feel all grimy from the trip back."

"I'll leave you to it then."

"Wait, you can't leave!" Naruto wailed, picking up Kakashi's used towels from the floor and stomping after him. "I thought we were gonna go talk to Sai!"

"Right now?"

"Yeah, in a minute! I have to shower first, though. I smell like Kiba."

Kakashi cocked an eyebrow at him. "There's nothing wrong with smelling like a dog."

"Oh, no." One by one, Naruto's ANBU garments were discarded on the floor until he was in only his underwear. "That's being nice. It's like…B.O. Mixed with shit. And his mom's chili."

Yikes. No wonder people rarely wanted to share the kid's tent on missions, besides his frequent bouts of fleas.

"Yeah, I know," Naruto said at Kakashi's repulsed expression. "Okay, I really gotta shower now. We're kind of in a hurry so just wait for me in here."

Kakashi decided to stroll into the kitchen, if only to go and scour the pantry for a snack. He'd kind of been hoping to finish those crackers off himself. To his mild surprise, however, he found Genma sitting comfortably at the kitchen table, beer in hand.

"Hey." He took a long drink. "I saw you crawl in through the window earlier. Thought I'd stop by."

"And you were kind enough to bring libations, I see." On a day this hot nothing sounded quite as good as cold beer. Kakashi nabbed one out of the six pack on the table, popping the top off with his thumb, but then set it down without so much as a sip.

"Man, you're fuckin' weird."

Kakashi stared at Genma from where he leaned against the countertop, eyes half-lidded as they always were. "I don't think I know anyone by that name."

Genma smirked. The shift in his jaw moved his senbon in a circle. "Smartass." He chewed on the metal point, tilting it up and down in an irregular rhythm. "I still don't get it, though. You're a grown-ass man, but you won't take off your mask for two goddamn seconds to drink a beer."

"Call it a force of habit." His flak jacket crinkled when he shrugged.

"No self-respecting adult drinks beer through a straw," Genma griped, wiping at his brow with his forearm.

"I'm just protecting my modesty." Kakashi fished through his hip pouch for the flattened straw currently being used as a bookmark. "Pretty sure that's a dictionary definition of self-respecting."

"I can't argue with that. You're like a nun."

"You should try it sometime." Absently, he traced the cool neck of the bottle with his index finger. "Instead of sending our esteemed Hokage some unsolicited dick pics, or whatever it was you did."

"Hey. My girlfriend is her assistant. I'm entitled to some understanding when a few naughty hawks end up in the wrong hands." It was Genma's turn to shrug before sliding an elbow over the back his chair. The short sleeves of his shirt were bunched around his shoulder to stave off some heat. He snorted as Kakashi, dressed in a sweater and pants, just took a sip of his beer, pulling his mask out at the neck and sliding the straw poking out of the bottle beneath it.

"Uh huh."

Genma was quick to continue in the same vein. "You know, you look a little…worn out these days."

"What's new?" He knew what was coming, as it always did.

"When's the last time you had some fun, huh?" A wicked grin grew on Genma's face, and Kakashi just sighed. Unfortunately, sex was his friend's favorite subject, and not something he himself had frequently enough to contribute to these conversations.

"Never. I'm saving myself for marriage." Kakashi slurped for several loud seconds before Genma gave him a narrowed look.

"C'mon, man," he said, leaning forward. "I'm pretty sure the last girl you dated was that Inuzuka chick, and that was, like, eighty years ago."

"Eighty. Wow." Kakashi's voice was inflectionless, his bored responses sounding as much like a broken record as Genma was starting to. It had been four years ago, after the war ended, and he and Hana decided they were better off with their veterinarian-pet owner relationship than a romantic one. It'd been fun while it lasted, though. She was cute, and her dogs were too—and thankfully she smelled a hell of a lot better than her brother.

"Who's this kunoichi I hear you've been roaming around the training fields with?" Genma took a long finishing swig. He handily tossed the empty bottle in the trash bin across the room with a loud clank while waiting not-so-patiently for an answer.

"Are you referring to Sakura? My former student and assigned medic?"

"Way to be a buzzkill," his friend mumbled, chin in palm. "You should be more open-minded. She's hot, man. Got that kind of naughty nurse thing going on, dontcha think?"

The stare Kakashi leveled at his suggestive look was probably more dead than Genma would've been if Sakura were in the room.

"She is hot," Naruto agreed, padding in with a towel on his head before he halted to a stop. "What is Genma doing here?"

"He's here because I'm here," answered Kakashi before his friend could get another dumbass word in edgewise.

"Okay, but why are you here in the first place?" Naruto's towel didn't quite land in the laundry basket on top of the microwave, so the whole thing fell over, spilling socks all over the dusty linoleum. "Damnit!"

"I missed you." He sucked down the rest of his beer as he noticed how many pairs of socks were a strange yellow-beige, most likely a result of being thrown in the wash with all those hideous orange outfits. "Also I have no water."

"Again?" Genma snorted. "Your landlady probably thinks you died."

"Please. She loves me, and our pets get along beautifully."

"We don't have time for this, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto stumbled a little as he slid on flip flops. "Sai's probably not gonna be there much longer, and I don't feel like going to headquarters again today to find him."

Kakashi set his empty bottle in the sink, but stuck the straw back in his bag. "Be where much longer?"

"Ichiraku! I saw him with Ino on my way back here. They're having one of their weekly meetings." Though Naruto was experiencing apparent distress at the time crunch, a sly grin crept across his face. "I think they just use them as excuses to go on dates, but don't tell them I said that."

Dates at Ichiraku—Kakashi couldn't picture anything less romantic, or more unappealing to Ino, the perpetual diet freak she was. Sai clearly didn't have much game either, something he'd likely inherited directly from his best buddy.

"Alright then," Kakashi said, though he had a feeling this was mostly a ploy for Naruto to get some lunch. In any case, it was worth a shot. "Let's go."

"Make yourself at home, Genma." Naruto headed for the front door while Kakashi went for the open window at the back of the room. "But only if you leave me some of those beers."

"No promises!" he called back as they left, popping the cap off another.

.

.

.

Two things were immediately apparent upon entering the food stand: Sai and Ino were definitely on some kind of pseudo-date, and Naruto was definitely hungry.

"THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN!" Naruto screamed, alerting everyone in a five-mile radius to his presence. Teuchi bellowed out a greeting and immediately started fixing him a bowl of miso ramen. Sai's eyes creased into the happy little half-moons that looked a little more sincere with each smile he gave. Ino's reaction, however, was much more amusing; she slumped against the counter before cradling her forehead in her palm.

"You said we had another hour before he was due back," she grunted, sitting up straight again and rummaging through the papers scattered on the bar top. None of them were official documents, as far as Kakashi could see, just her own handwritten notes with a recent broth stain in the top corner.

Sai continued to smile, unconcerned. "Naruto-kun is very good at his job. It's no surprise he finished early."

Naruto launched into a tale of his mission—classified, no doubt, but Sai didn't seem to mind since most of the story involved the trip back and a squirrel that had gotten in his sleeping bag—while Kakashi went about being the nosy ninja that everyone seemed to find so endearing. Ino's notes were a hodgepodge of all sorts of thing, from a personal note about when a sale started at her favorite shoe store to a receipt for deliveries to her family shop. The most official stuff was written neater and in black ink, and when Kakashi could squint past the girlish penmanship he could see—

"Oh, here," Ino said after she swallowed a delicate mouthful of ramen, then reached across the bar to hand him the stack of papers. "You can take a look if you'd like. It's for the next stage of our mental health reform."

"Mental health reform?" he echoed, thumbing through the pages. He'd never seen more pink and purple sticky notes in his life. "For ANBU?"

"Precisely," Sai nodded. "Some of our operatives, particularly the veterans, have endured significant psychological trauma," he said, looking Kakashi directly in the eye. "In fact, your input would be greatly appreciated since you've dealt with crippling PTSD, Kakashi-san."

That smile of his was back to being annoying.

"Thanks," he deadpanned as Naruto's face scrunched in second-hand embarrassment and Ino's palm met her forehead once more, this time with a resounding smack.

"Looks like Sai's got his head unscrewed a bit too," she grit through her teeth before shooting Kakashi an apologetic look. "Sorry, sensei."

He shrugged, shoving his hands in his front pockets. "He's not wrong."

Naruto leaned over his shoulder (leaned? When did Naruto get as tall as him?) and skimmed the papers.

"Hey," he whined, pout and all. "What's my name doing on here? I'm not all screwy in the head!"

"Yes, you are," the rest of them said in unison.

While Naruto went about snatching the papers clean out of Kakashi's hand, Sai went on to dig his own goddamn grave. "Though your trauma is more or less completely related to the childhood negligence and abuse you received as a village outcast and orphan, not from ANBU missions." Sai's eyes slid Kakashi's way. "However, Kakashi-san also presents the same childlike antics, such as being late, compulsive lying, never—"

Ino slapped a hand over Sai's mouth. "He won't be overseeing the mental health reform. I promise."

"Probably for the best."

Naruto's cheeks bulged in anger before he wagged a finger Sai's way. "I'm gonna ignore all that, only because I want a favor." He then clasped his hands together in a begging manner and all signs of his anger vanished to make room for that childish grin. "Can I have vacation time to tag along on Kakashi-sensei's stuffy, boring diplomatic mission?"

"Did you check your mask into repairs?"

"Yeah. Just needs a paint job, I patched most of it on the way back."

"Did you sign your equipment back in?"

"Yes. Paperwork is in Ibiki's mailbox."

"Did you send a request to payroll?"

"Yes. Thanks for the raise, by the way."

"The report?"

"I'll get it finished by tonight. I have to cross-reference with Owl on a few details."

Sai nodded, looking rather pleased. "Very well. I'll take you off the roster. You have indefinite leave; just resubmit when you get back."

Naruto flashed him a wink and thumbs up, even clicking his tongue for effect. "You got it, chief."

"Wow." Kakashi whistled, feeling dumbfounded and proud all at once. Naruto and responsibility weren't two words Kakashi often associated with one another, but it seemed his former student really had grown up—if only in the very slightest. "Why didn't you have your shit this put together when you were my student?"

"Once again: I was twelve."

"That's true. You've grown up to be quite the handsome little rascal, haven't you?"

"I take it back. Your body is ugly and scarecrow-y. Leave me alone."

"Fine, fine," Kakashi drawled, reaching out to flick Naruto's head and nearly missing when he ducked. "Just eat your ramen."

"I'm gonna get it to go. We should go find Sakura and deliver the good news." His smile was huge, and would have been infectious had Kakashi not remembered then that he'd forgotten another healing session with Sakura, and she surely wouldn't let it slide this time.

"Let's not jinx ourselves. I need to have a chat with Tsunade about this first." He gave Naruto a placating eye smile. "You stay here, talk about that squirrel some more. I'm sure Teuchi-san would love to hear about it."

"I think I heard enough," the man chuckled, placing a big, steaming bowl of food on the counter. "Here you go, kid. Extra pork."

"Thanks, Jii-chan!" Naruto beamed. "But did you hear the best part? Where it crawled up in my clothes and bit my—"

If that wasn't a cue to leave, Kakashi wasn't about to wait for another one, so he decided to disappear with a pop of chakra in his wake.

.

.

.

The Hokage tower was quiet when he walked in, the lobby even more so with the chuunin secretaries quietly filling out and organizing paperwork. One of them glanced up when he passed by their desk.

"Are you looking to speak with Tsunade-sama?" she asked, pen poised over a rather large folder full of forms.

"Uh…yeah." He scratched the back of his head. "Is she in?"

"She's in a meeting, but she shouldn't be much longer if you'd like to wait." The chuunin gestured to rather uncomfortable-looking chairs by the wall. No thanks.

He was about to figure something else out when the office doors swung suddenly open, and out strolled Sakura. She was dressed for the heat in athletic shorts, ninja sandals, and one of her red sleeveless tops, and her hair was pulled into a ponytail at the crown of her head. It was a bit of a departure from the outfits he usually saw her working in; he wondered if she was sneaking work in on a day off again. It seemed to be a hobby of hers.

"Hey," she said, somewhat surprised, "you're early. I was just about to come and drag you out to the training fields."

Kakashi cleared his throat. "Actually, I came to speak with Tsunade."

"Oh. Well, she's not in right now; I just dropped some forms off on her desk. Are you ready to go now and then we'll come back later?"

After hearing a small noise that sounded scarily similar to her knuckles cracking, he started shifting on either foot as she stepped closer. He'd missed yesterday's therapy session for reasons not entirely unrelated to Icha Icha Violence and had been several hours late to every other one before that.

"Why don't we just do our mission briefing and call it a day?" He put on his best pair of smiling eyes and briefly considered making a run for it. "It's so much nicer inside, and—"

"Nice try, but no." Sakura smiled and firmly tugged on his sleeve, pulling him toward the doors of the Hokage's office. He let himself be dragged since he probably deserved it—no one would question Sakura taking him into Tsunade's office, and he certainly wouldn't struggle against her strength, however little of it she was using.

Once they entered, she barely paused a second before taking them to the balcony, opening a window to let them slide out before closing it behind her.

The wind actually blew up here unlike between the buildings of the village, and the day was clear and beautiful, so the heat wasn't quite as much of a nuisance. The sun glinted in winking, blinding spots of light off metal rooftops down below. Tall green trees swayed softly in the distance beyond the village borders, and a few food stands had things cooking, their enticing scents wafting up as the breeze carried them upward and away. Not a bad view, but not quite conducive to training either.

Sakura's ponytail whipped around when she let go of him and turned to face him. "I won't make you train today, but I am going to keep healing you. Unlike some of us I don't enjoy half-assing things."

"Mah, you're being so generous today, Sakura-chan. My birthday's not until September, you know." She shooed his hand away when he made a move to muss her hair.

"Don't push it," she muttered, snorting and rolling her eyes as her fingernail poked into his shoulder. "Sit down."

Behind Kakashi were two foldout chairs, one of which he dutifully plopped into, with an ashtray full of old cigar stubs sitting between them on the ledge. He could almost see Tsunade sitting out here smoking and drinking after long hours in the office or losing another crappy bet. The thought made him smirk under his mask.

Sakura sat in the opposite chair from him and picked up his previously-injured leg, setting his heel on top of her thighs. The bandages around his calf were slowly unraveled and stuffed beneath his ankle, and the wind soothingly coated his exposed skin. Her finger traced the faint imprint where the wraps had been more tightly wound than necessary.

"How bad has your leg been bothering you?"

"It hasn't, really." He reclined to let his head rest against the concrete wall and saw Sakura's pink eyebrow raise toward her hairline—not buying it, as usual.

"Scale of one to ten."

"Hmm." It was just a dull, hollow ache at this point, like the bone was expecting to take much longer to heal than a week and a half. "Maybe a two or three."

"Really?" An uncomfortable pull immediately stretched down his shin when she angled the top of his foot toward her stomach. "I hope the last taijutsu session didn't strain you too hard."

He closed his eyes and reclined against the concrete wall, recalling their rather long spar yesterday before they called a draw out of mutual exhaustion."You weren't exactly going easy on me."

"And you were?" A smile was evident in her voice. Chakra tickled his skin as it seeped through it and sank first into the muscles, then into the bone underneath. "You really need to teach me that wrist torquing thing. I'm still not so good at moves that require that delicate precision you seem to specialize in."

"When we have some free time on this mission"—and they were sure to have a lot—"I'll show you a few tricks."

"Well, well, well," Sakura sang, pressing chakra-laden fingertips into his calf muscle, "looks like I'm not the only generous one today."

With one eye opened, he fought a lazy grin despite himself. "Don't push it."

She giggled softly through her nose. "Of course not, Kakashi. I wouldn't dream of asking you to finally teach me something useful."

"So you're telling me I didn't teach you the incomparable value of friendship and teamwork?" He placed a hand over his heart. "I'm hurt."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll bet that enormous ego of yours is just bruised to bits right now." Her ponytail fluttered when she shook her head, glancing up at him expectantly. "Speaking of pain…?"

"Just keep doing what you're doing."

"See, you say that every time, and it never helps." The second her chakra withdrew, she circled his ankle around in her palm. The ache had lessened considerably. "What about now?"

"Definitely better."

She waited, eyes bright green in the afternoon sunlight.

"Low two."

"Okay. I can live with that." She rolled his foot around her lap again. "I think I figured out the exact spot that still needs work. It's just a matter of completely strengthening the bone."

Kakashi nodded, closing his eyes again, but they popped back open a second later when the distinct noise of metal against metal sounded from beside him.

"You two planning to sit out there all day," Tsunade huffed, sliding her office windows open one by one, "or did you actually want to discuss your mission now, Kakashi?"

"You read my mind," he replied, creasing his eyes into half-moons. Sakura stood quickly and stuck out an arm, offering to help him up, and he took it before they went inside.

Tsunade sat cross-legged at her desk, haori draped over her chair and stray paper currently being used as a makeshift fan in her hand. Sakura stood at attention in front of her, back straight and poised, while Kakashi slouched a few feet to the right between her and Shizune.

"So." A few small stacks of paper were scattered beneath Tsunade's searching palm until she finally found the one she wanted. She skimmed its contents as she got more comfortable in her seat, putting her feet up on the corner of the desk. "Here's the deal: I'd love to tell you that is that this is complete and total bullshit, just a cover to get you to go around and kiss ass, but it's not."

Of course things wouldn't be that simple; they never were where Kakashi and his team were concerned, were they?

"It's no small thing, but it's also not a huge deal either." The paper she was fanning weakly blew hair away from her flushed face. "You'll be meeting with all the other kages to discuss a new trade agreement. What we're trying to establish is more transparency with the regulations between our systems and those outside Fire Country. This is specifically about our exports and how they're being taxed and distributed in other countries, so your objective is to get them to agree to an wider network of more frequent communication."

She suddenly threw a large stapled stack of papers at Kakashi, fast and straight as a frisbee, which he caught with ease. "Details are in there. Sakura, Shizune just put yours on your desk, so don't forget to pick them up before you leave."

Sakura nodded, gazing with a bit of trepidation at the thick documents in Kakashi's hand.

"You're not only going as his medic, but also as a sort of advisor. I have a distinct feeling you're more well-versed in how I handle politics than Hatake here."

He wanted to make a comment about how grateful he was for her faith in him as always, but Sakura's eyes cut up to his, signaling him to keep his mouth shut. "Yes, shishou."

Tsunade continued as though she hadn't seen the little exchange. "This is not supposed to be a dangerous or difficult mission whatsoever. Just get the job done and make a good impression so things can go smoothly and quickly when you get back."

When he got back. Right. She meant when they held his untimely funeral. "How long is this expected to take?"

"I'm giving you ample time to get from country to country. Each kage is expecting you for the first week of each month. You'll start in Water, then Lightning, then Iwa, and lastly Suna. Use the in-between time to do some sightseeing. And for god's sake, Kakashi, get where you're supposed to be on time, for once."

That probably wouldn't be happening. "Yes, Tsunade-sama."

"Alright." Tsunade ran a hand over her face. "I've given you two a pretty healthy budget for travel expenses. Don't blow it on stupid nonsense…unless you're planning to smuggle me in some ginjo sake from Kumo."

"Shouldn't be a problem," Kakashi said with a smile on his eyes.

"Good. Well, that should be it, then. Read over the information I gave you two and the mission scrolls waiting for you in the assignments office before you leave." She sighed. "Any other questions while you're here?"

Her tone of voice indicated that there shouldn't be any, but Kakashi pressed on regardless. "I have a request."

Tsunade glared at him with narrowed brown eyes. "If you're going to ask me if you can bow out, I'll permanently dislocate your shoulders."

"Actually, I was wondering if we could bring along an ANBU agent."

"And what in the hell would be your reasoning for that?" She sat up, leaning onto her desk with crossed arms. "You and Sakura can't defend yourself against the occasional village purse-snatcher?"

"It's a long mission where we'll be traveling across several different countries. I don't think it would hurt to have an extra pair of hands." Kakashi shrugged, hands in his pockets. "Plus, the bigger the entourage, the more people will take me seriously in all respects."

Tsunade seemed to be chewing on this for a moment, and Sakura glanced at him in the meantime. He responded to her with another shrug.

"Um, Tsunade-sama," Shizune chimed in from behind him, "it might be a bit late to put this through to ANBU."

"Not necessarily. Depends on who you want." She looked like she had a pretty good idea. Kakashi put on a happy expression for her benefit.

"I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem letting Naruto come along."

"Hn." Tsunade laughed once humorlessly under her breath. "I figured that's what you were getting at."

"Can he come, shishou?" Sakura was rubbing at the back of her leg with her other foot, tension in her shoulders. "I think it's a good idea, too."

"Well, since he's standing outside," Tsunade yelled out the window, "why don't you ask him yourself?"

Sakura blinked, but Kakashi just chuckled under his breath. He saw a pair of legs swing down from the awning before the rest of Naruto followed, hair as yellow as the sun behind his head.

"Aww! How'd you know it was me?" Naruto whined, clumsily climbing in through a window and landing on the floor behind her desk face-first. "Ow."

"We've been over this, Naruto." She yanked him up by his shirt, grumbling under her breath all the while. "Quit eavesdropping on my meetings!"

"But you were talking about me!" His whisker marks moved as he shrieked and pouted. Tsunade was having none of it, so she flicked at his back and propelled him away from her general vicinity. A loud cough wheezed out of him as he tripped forward.

"Yo," Kakashi said, lifting a hand in greeting.

"Hey, sensei." In a matter of seconds, he'd gripped Kakashi's wrist and slapped a high-five, then moved over to Sakura and wrapped his arms around her neck, planting a big, wet, open-mouthed smack of a kiss on her cheek.

"Nar—" A self-conscious but sincere giggle cut her short. "Naruto, I can't breathe!"

"Sorry, I got excited." He laughed sheepishly as he stepped off. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." Her arm found a comfortable place around his middle, and he beamed widely. The sight was warming and sweet, and Kakashi suddenly had a good feeling—no way could Tsunade argue with this.

"Out of my office, Naruto. We're having a private meeting."

"Come on, baa-chan! I'm an asset here!" He was bouncing on his feet, barely able to contain himself. Tsunade seemed to be in the same state as her face turned frighteningly redder. "Can I please go with them?"

"Out, Naruto!"

"Pleeeeeeease can I go baa-chan please please please—"

"If you don't get out of here in five seconds—"

"—please please please please please—"

"—rip the kyuubi out myself—"

"—please please please?" Naruto held on even tighter to Sakura, angling their heads to rest on each other's as if they were taking engagement photos. "Pretty please?"

"God damn it!" A disconcerting crack sounded from the desk when Tsunade slammed a fist against it. "Fine. Just stop talking."

"Fine?" The hope on Naruto's face made him look about ten years younger.

"Yes! Fine!" She ran an angry hand through her hair, and sweat made it stick straight back in crazed spikes. It was almost hilarious—only Naruto would be able to make the Godaime herself get close to losing her shit. "Get the paperwork ready, Shizune, and leave me alone for a minute. I need a drink."

"Of course, Tsunade-sama." A harried Shizune scuttled out of the room. Kakashi couldn't blame her.

"As for the rest of you—Sakura excepted—I don't want to see you again until you're walking out of Konoha." She readjusted the falling strap of her kimono. "Now go home and pack your bags, all of you."

"No problem." Kakashi flashed her a peace sign.

"Bye, baa-chan!" Naruto all but screamed, running out and dragging a waving Sakura with him. Tsunade's resounding sigh trailed after them as the doors behind them.

"So, are you ready?" Sakura asked once they were out of the lobby, her tone light and lilting in the presence of her friend.

"Duh, I am! I'm friggin' pumped!" But then he paused for a second, bringing them all to a slow, anticipating stop. Blond eyebrows furrowed over confused eyes. "I don't really know we're supposed to be doing, though."

Sakura snorted as Kakashi ruffled his hair. "Why don't we go fill you in over some ramen?"

"Good thinking," Naruto agreed emphatically, dashing off in front of them. Clearly the fact that he'd just eaten was of little importance, as could only be expected of him.

"Think we can get him to pay for us?" Kakashi murmured to his companion as she tightened her ponytail, walking beside him. "I'm hungry."

"What you are is terrible," she said, playfully socking his arm, and then trotted off to keep up with Naruto. "But yeah, probably. He's in a great mood."

So was Kakashi, though it might have had a lot to do with the prospect of a free meal.

.

a/n: jesus fhdjsvbg CHRIST. I'm so glad to be done with this chaos of an update. I just need everyone to know that this chapter literally, and I mean that in the most accurate sense of the word, would not have happened without the help of a to-remain-mostly-anonymous friend of mine who I dearly appreciate and luv, as she knows, and who I will from here on out refer to as scrungo. so please be grateful to the almighty scrungo, peeps.

reviews would also be dearly appreciated and luved. seriously, I love hearing feedback—it really helps me out, especially since this is the longest story I've written in over a year, and comments/encouragement are good for the soul.