Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto....

Keep up the good work with the reviews. They make all the difference. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Chapter 20: The Council's Decision

Thoughts

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sakura was headed down the street, a slight spring in her step. She was headed back to Kakashi's to tell him what Tsunade said. She was only a block away when a familiar voice came from behind her.

"Forehead!!" Ino came running up behind her. "What's the big idea, ditching me in the club last night."

Inwardly, Sakura groaned. An interrogation was the last thing she needed right now. She stopped walking, and turned to face her best friend. "Good morning Ino-Pig. Nice to see you too."

Ino put her hands on her hips, and glared at the pink haired beauty. "So spill. One minute you were dancing with that cute guy, and the next thing I know there's a fight and your gone."

Sakura chewed her bottom lip, something she always did when she was nervous. "Well...I sort of went home with Kakashi."

"What!" Ino's scream echoed through the street. "You went home with....." Sakura quickly covered Ino's mouth with her hand.

"Shhhh. Do you want all of Konoho to hear you." She pulled back her hand, and began rubbing her head. She saw the look in Ino's eyes, and raised her hand to silence the oncoming assault of questions. "If you plan on putting me though the Spanish inquisition, I have to have lunch first. Your treat."

Ino rolled her eyes. "Fine. But you can't leave out any details."

Thirty minutes later, Sakura and Ino were sipping tea at a quiet little tea house. Sakura had just finished telling her everything that happened since last night and for once, Ino was speechless.

"Wow forehead. For the first time I don't know what to say." Ino smiled, and both girls burst into laughter. After a few minutes, they calmed down, and resumed their conversation. "So do you really think Tsunade will be able to convince the Elders to let you stay together?"

"I hope so." Sakura's gaze settled on her cup. "I don't think I can bare having to be separated from him again."

Ino cast her friend a sympathetic glance. "Don't worry. If anyone can convince them, it's Tsunade." Ino took a long sip from her glass. "So do you have any idea how they are going to make their decision?"

Sakura shook her head. "Not really, but they'll probably talk to friends, and members of other squads, as well as Naruto, and Sasuke. That way they can make sure there wasn't anything going on while he was still my Sensei."

Ino nodded thoughtfully. "So, in the mean time, what are you planning to do?"

"Tsunade said we should spend as much time together as we can. And thats exactly what I plan to do." Sakura gave a firm, triumphant nod of her head.

Ino shrugged her shoulders. "Well, people were bound to find out eventually. Lets see how they react. "

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

2 Days Later

Sakura sat across from Kakashi in an intimate little restaurant. The couple was holding hands and laughing quietly while waiting for their food to arrive. Throughout the restaurant people were starring, some with looks of confusion, others with their features twisted in disgust.

A tall woman, with short cropped hair walked by their table, bumping into Sakura as she passed. She glared at her over her shoulder. "Whore". It was just above a whisper, but Sakura heard her loud and clear.

"What did you say?" Her anger radiated around her in an almost visible aura. The woman flinched back in fear. Everyone knew that the Hokage's apprentice shared her Sensei's temper. Sakura began to push herself up from the table, but Kakashi caught her arm.

"Sakura" his voice was that of someone trying to appease an angry child. "This really isn't the place for that." He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, while giving her his signature eye crinkle. This gave the woman an opportunity to escape.

"Besides, the food is here." He turned his head to acknowledge the waiter standing by the table. The man timidly set their plates down and quickly walked away.

Sakura slumped back into her chair, folding her arms across her chest. "Fine." She stuck her bottom lip out in a pout. "But I could have taken her."

Kakashi chuckled. "I'm sure you could have. But we really shouldn't give the Elders any other excuses to keep us apart."

Sakura sighed. "I know. I just wish people would leave us alone." Sakura picked up her chopsticks and began pushing her noodles around on her plate. "At least our friends have been supportive. If you don't count Lee trying to kill you."

Kakashi laughed. "They just need time to get used us." He picked up his chopsticks, and lifted a pile of noodles from his plate. "Now eat, before it gets cold."

Sakura shook her head, a pout still plastered to her face. "I seem to have lost my appetite."

"Really?" Kakashi raised one eyebrow, and set down his food. He leaned across the table till his face was just inches from Sakura's. "Did I tell you how sexy you look when you pout like that?" He slipped one hand under the table, and began running his fingers up her thigh.

Sakura jumped in her chair, dropping her chopsticks onto her plate. "Kakashi what are you doing?" His hand continued to inch further up, reaching the hem of her skirt. Her back stiffened slightly. "Someone will see."

He leaned in closer, she could feel the heat of his breath on her neck. "Since you were no longer hungry, I thought I would find other ways to occupy you."

Sakura's body was trembling. "Well...you see...it turns out I am kind of hungry." She reached around him and picked up her fallen chopsticks. "Yummy" she slurped a few noodles from her plate.

Kakashi laughed, and returned his attention to his own plate. Sakura took several bites, then looked over at Kakashi. His plate was empty, and his mask intact. Sakura starred wide eyed. "How do you do that?"

He chuckled again, while rubbing the back of his head. "Lots of practice."

After Sakura finished her meal, the couple exited the restaurant. Once outside, Kakashi wrapped his arm around Sakura's waist, and he lead them in the direction of his apartment. He began whispering in her ear, and soon her face matched her hair.

They were halfway down the street, when a messenger appeared before them. " Lady Hokage wants the two of you in her office right away."

Kakashi nodded his head and continued on his current path, with Sakura right beside him. The messenger cleared his throat from behind them. "I'm suppose to escort the two of you there....Now." Embarrassed he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Lady Tsunade was concerned you might get... lost... on the way."

Sakura covered her mouth to hide her amusement. With Kakashi's record, Tsunade wasn't taking any chances. "She may have news from the Elders." Sakura reasoned.

Reluctantly Kakashi agreed, and within minutes, they were standing in front of Hokage Tower. Once safely delivered to their destination, their escort disappeared, leaving them alone to face Tsunade.

Together they climbed the stairs, unsure weather to be eager or hesitant. Finally, they were outside Tsunade's office. Nervously, Sakura raised her hand, and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in." Tsunade's voice echoed from the other side of the door. Kakashi pushed the door open, and hand in hand they entered her office.

Tsunade looked up from her desk and smiled."Ah, you made it. I knew that escort was a good idea."

Sakura walked forward and sat down across from the honey eyed blond. Kakashi came and stood behind his lover, his hand rested reassuringly on her shoulder.

Tsunade cleared her throat. "Let's get right down to business. I called you here today because the council has finished their investigation and they have come to a decision." There was no missing the distress in her voice.

Tears began to sting Sakura's eyes. "So they've decided against us?" Behind her Kakashi stiffened.

Tsunade shook her head. "Not exactly." She reached under her desk and produced a bottle of sake, which she quickly poured into a glass for herself, and began to sip. "There has been a complication."

"What kind of complication." Kakashi's voice was harsh in contrast to Sakura's.

Tsunade set down her glass, and began to rub her forehead. " Sasuke."

At the mention of his name, Kakashi's grip on Sakura's shoulder tightened. Sakura looked at Tsunade, confusion written on her face. "What does he have to do with anything?"

"He didn't." It wasn't a question. Kakashi's eye widened, as he put the pieces together. Tsunade nodded in confirmation. His entire body began to tremble with rage, and his grip on Sakura's shoulder became painful.

Sakura still wasn't following "What did he do. I don't understand." She looked pleadingly at Tsunade.

Tsunade lowered her head, and exhaled a deep breath. "I'm so sorry Sakura, but Sasuke has made a claim, against you and Kakashi." Sakura shook her head, she still didn't understand. "When questioned by the elders, he claimed that you and Kakashi had a prior relationship."

Understanding flashed across Sakura's face, followed by rage. She jumped to her feet, slamming her fist against Tsunade's desk. "Thats not true! Why would he say that?"

Kakashi stroked her hair in an attempt to console her. " I'm sorry love. But men like Sasuke don't handle rejection well. You refused him, now he's getting revenge."

"I'll kill him." Her hands clinched into fists, and angry tears began to fall down her cheeks. Her entire body began trembling, and a faint chakra glow could be seen enveloping her form. Neither Kakashi or Tsunade had ever seen Sakura so angry.

Tsunade quickly spoke up."I tried convincing the council that it wasn't true, but they said they couldn't ignore his claim given the circumstances." She poured another drink before continuing. "However I did convince them to give Sakura a chance to defend herself against his accusations."

Sakura began to calm down. "And just exactly how will I do that." There was a desperate edge in her voice.

It was Kakashi who answered. "Through combat."

Tsunade nodded in agreement. "Since the main issue here is weather you earned your place as a Shinobi or not, you will have to pass a trial by combat." She took a sip of her drink. "If you pass, you'll be granted jounin status, and this entire issue will be laid to rest."

Sakura nodded, her pink locks falling in her face. "And if I fail?"

Once again it was Kakashi who answered. "Then we'll be punished to the fullest extent of the law."

Sakura quickly regained her composure. She squared her shoulders and defiantly thrust out her chin. "Who will I be fighting?"

A half smile formed on Tsunade's face, and she took a long sip from her glass before answering. "Sasuke."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sorry, I know its a little short, but the next chapter is the fight, and it will be longer. I just have to do a little research, since I haven't written a fight scene before, and I want it to be good. I hope you enjoyed. I go back to work next week, so the posting will be a little slower. But, I'll try to get the next chapter up before I go back.