Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. Kishimoto would never let them act like I will.

Chapter Two: Tsunade's Game Plan

Tsunade had enlisted Iruka to help set them up and the chunnin teacher only agreed when he was assured this was something Naruto really wanted also. Together they had plotted and she had come up with the night watch scheme, much to Iruka's displeasure since he knew Tsunade would watch exactly what occurred between them through her inherited spy glass, to hopefully give Kakashi the room to approach Naruto when he thought he was unobserved. But no. That stupid prideful jounin kept watch outside the window and never even tried to approach the blond. So now they'd try the two man missions, which had been Iruka's suggestion. Iruka had known the Jounin wouldn't do anything so long as he felt anyone was paying attention and he not only felt there were people watching. He knew there were. But Iruka felt Tsunade was being unnecessarily cruel to Kakashi also in making him watch Naruto preparing for bed when she knew how the jounin felt about the boy. But then Iruka was aware of how Naruto slept and maybe for all her use of the viewing orb Tsunade didn't really know just how cruel she was being.

The night before they were given their first mission she had someone sneak into Naruto's house and steal his tent and sleeping bag. She'd set things up so that when they got to the resort town they were going to they would only have one available room with a single bed and not much floor space. She was smirking when she gave the duo their mission. Naruto frowned at her knowing she was up to something but unable to see what it was. Kakashi just reacted like normal and as soon as he was dismissed went home to pack his things.

An hour later the tower women plus Jiraiya and Iruka were watching through the crystal ball as the pair left the village. "Something is bound to happen this time," Tsunade said.

"I don't know, Nade-hime," countered Jiraiya. "Gaki can be very clueless when he wants to be and when it comes to sex he seems to be quite comfortable pretending it doesn't exist."

Tsunade snorted. "We already know he likes that pervert and the pervert likes him just as much."

"Ah but does Naruto know Kakashi likes him? For that matter, does Kakashi know Naruto likes him the same way?"

All three of the women looked at each other in surprise. They'd never really thought about that. Could that be why the duo hadn't acted yet on their oh-so-very-obvious feelings? "Well, no matter. I'm sure they'll figure it out on this mission," said Tsunade, optimistically. But a week later the duo was home again and Naruto had a new tent and sleeping bag. It was clear, as they entered the gate, that neither had done a thing to further the relationship.

Another mission was set up, this time they would be camping in the woods nowhere near any town or village. Once again they managed to make the majority of Naruto's gear disappear right before they gave them the mission. Both men were suspicious when they left the village but neither questioned their orders. They slept in shifts and when they were both awake they sparred while waiting for their client to show up. Neither did anything to relieve the tension both felt and when the client did show, they escorted him to his destination while not doing or saying a word about how long they'd been waiting for him. The man, who had been expecting a low level genin team for the simple escort, thanked them and included a huge tip for their services explaining that he had not expected to be escorted by such a famous pair.

Kakashi carefully questioned the client as to why he seemed so surprised to find them waiting for him as well as why he had been so late to arrive at the appointed spot. The client had sputtered and protested that he was right on time and told the jounin that he had only been expecting a team of genin due to the simplicity of the mission. But he went on to say that although he appreciated being escorted by the single most famous pair of ninja in the world right now that didn't mean he was gonna pay whatever their current going rate was.

Kakashi told him there was no need for him to pay any more. They were given the mission and so they had come to escort him. More careful questioning, as they walked along, revealed the betting pool that was nationwide. He made sure he asked the questions out of Naruto's hearing and the flustered client had shown him the weekly betting sheet that was posted every week in almost any village in the Fire Country borders.

Kakashi was surprised to see some of the names and the size of the bets on the sheet. Some of those names belonged to very important and high class people! What the hell? Why was his and Naruto's sex life so interesting to everyone? Sheesh. The boy was only fifteen for Kami Sake. What was wrong with people that they thought his sex life had to be resolved right now. Didn't people have anything better to do with their time? Of course the fact that he was also involved in these bets didn't escape his notice. But he could handle that. People had been wondering about and commenting on his sexual experiences for years. This though. . . He didn't know whether to be dismayed, flattered or angry by how far out of proportion this had gotten.

A very frustrated Kakashi came through the gates with an equally angry Naruto. All the way back to the village Kakashi had been silent and cold towards the foxy boy and he didn't know why. All he knew was Kakashi kept glaring at a sheet of paper in his hand. A sheet of paper he was very careful not to let Naruto see. Tsunade growled in frustration as she watched them enter the village and part ways for their separate homes.

But the next day they acted the same way they always had. Naruto got up and went through his usual morning routine before heading outside for the day. He'd then go find Kakashi and watch him for a few minutes before nodding and going off to do his own training. Then he'd check in on other friends and go have some lunch. Sometimes he'd find someone to eat with. Sometimes he'd eat alone in his apartment or at the ramen stand. After lunch he'd do some more training and Kakashi would check up on him. But they didn't speak to each other or even spar together. Just the brief check and then off to their own pursuits.

Tsunade wanted to pound her head on a brick wall. It would she felt be more effective. Or maybe it would be if she were banging their heads on the wall. But she knew she couldn't be that blunt and obvious. These two required more subtle handling.