Please stop asking about Political Alliances 2, I'm not planning on writing the sequel as I've stated in the last chapter and my bio page so there, I've answered it again also Naruto Hatake 2 will be up as soon as I finish off a story so please stop asking. And as always if you read you should leave a review just so I know if the story is going well or not.

Love Song

Chapter 3: Out on the Town

In a building new the downtown area of the village, was a small cafe that many ninja of the village liked to go. It was run by a retired ninja so everyone that had a forehead protector was treated with respect and could usually get a decent deal. It was mostly an indoor place, with a bar and stools but had a lot of tables and booths. The outside had a few tables for those better days. All in all it was a nice relaxing place to be when you were between missions, got off one or just had the day off and wanted to be around your colleagues and friends.

In one table sat two such friends, Anko Mitarashi a special jonin that liked to wear her own unique style of ninja mesh under a trench coat. She was happily eating her favourite snack, dango. In fact, to her, whenever she had dango she would be happy.

Across from her sat Kurenai Yuhi, a full jonin that also had her own unique sense of style with her wrap around clothing. The genjutsu mistress was sipping tea as the two caught up.

"So what are the brats like today?" Anko asked in reference to Kurenai's genins.

"They are not brats," Kurenai said sternly. "They are actually performing very well, they work together as a real team and they are coming along. I might actually offer then a chance at the chunin exams this year since they are being held in the village."

"Don't remind me," Anko sighed. "I can't believe I got pulled into being in charge of one of those rounds."

"Have they told you which one yet?"

"No, but it better not be the last part of the exam," Anko said sourly. "I don't want to be a referee for just that, the first or second would be much better. Hell, I'm sure I got a few ideas to put them through. I won't find out until tomorrow which part of the exam I'll be in charge of."

"Well it shouldn't be so bad if you can get the part you want at least," Kurenai said taking a sip.

Anko looked up with a smirk, "Oh hey look, it's that guy you have had a crush on all this time."

"What are you talking about?" Kurenai asked suddenly.

"Oh you know, the tall, dark and handsome jonin that I've seen you hang around with and making eyes at." Anko teased. Truth was she wasn't sure if Kurenai even liked the guy but that didn't mean she couldn't poke fun at her about it. It was just too funny anyway.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Kurenai told her flatly.

"Oh you know, the guy with the slightly rebellious past, girls do like the rebels right?"

"Anko," Kurenai warned.

"Who likes rebels?" Asuma asked as he came over to their table. He had heard a bit of the end of that conversation but he wasn't sure what they were talking about.

"Nothing," Kurenai said quickly.

"Oh you know, we were just talking about how women like-ah!" Anko felt Kurenai's foot kicking her shin. Anko was thankful that she liked to wear shin protectors, that kick had hurt a bit even through it.

"It's nothing," Kurenai said again glaring at Anko.

Asuma just shrugged, whatever it was he doubted that he would want to know. "Anyways have either of you seen Gai yet?"

"No, what's he doing now?" Kurenai asked wondering what he was doing now. With that man you could never tell and if Asuma asked then it most likely had to be something above the usual for him.

"He's been asking out every single woman that he comes across." Asuma told them.

"Are you serious?" Anko asked him wondering if he was just messing with her. "What the hell has gotten in him this time? I mean serious, I know he never does anything normal but why is he bothering to do all of this?"

"I have no idea," Asuma told the younger woman. "I was hoping if he had asked you two he would have explained it at least."

"Well we haven't seen him all day," Kurenai told him.

"Oh crap," Anko muttered seeing their subject just walking in at this moment. "Spoke too soon Kurenai."

Kurenai turned around and locked eyes with the self titled 'Green Beast of Konoha'. She wished she hadn't as Gai quickly ran over to their table looking at Kurenai first.

"Kurenai, please will you-"

"Sorry I'm not interested," Kurenai said as politely as possible.

Gai wasn't dismayed as he quickly turned around to face Anko but didn't even get a word out before the special jonin answered.

"Ask and die," Anko said simply enough. She was very picky about who she dated and in all honesty, Gai wasn't the type she looked for. He was way too hyper all the time, she hated that green body suit and she didn't find him particularly attractive. So she wanted to make it clear in no uncertain terms he had no chance.

"Gai," Asuma said sharply getting the man's attention. "What the hell is going on? You've been asking out women all day from what I hear."

"I cannot lose to my rival that's why!" Gai stated proudly. "He may have gotten a lead but I will show him that I will not be outdone by him."

For a moment all three of them blinked not sure what was going on.

"Can someone please tell me what he's going on about now?" Anko asked confused.

"Gai," Kurenai said calmly. "Will you tell us what it is that's going on? Since you said 'rival' I take it this is to do with Kakashi?"

"Yes," Gai told her calming down a bit. "I found out that Kakashi not only has a girlfriend but they are in fact living together."

Dead silence followed by three separate reactions. First was a slight clatter as Anko's dango fell back onto her plate, her grip lost on it as her mouth opened in shock. Kurenai had the misfortune to be sipping her tea, and nearly choked on it. Asuma had been about to lit a cigarette but when his jaw dropped it fell to the floor.

"Are you serious?" Anko blurted out first.

"I saw her myself this morning," Gai told them.

"Are you sure you're not mistaking things?" Kurenai asked feeling better to talk.

"She was wearing nothing but his shirt and had been sleeping in his bed," Gai explained to them what he saw that morning. "I asked Kakashi and he even said they were living together."

"Holy crap," Anko sat down in her seat. "Wow, who would have thought that he would but down his books long enough to date let alone find a girl. Oh she must have seen The Face!" Anko perked up at that. The Face was one of the most guarded secret in their village, the face of Kakashi Hatake. No one could remember what he looked like without it and there were vague reports of what he might look like.

"I mean if they slept together she would have seen it," Anko went on although she thought of something. "Unless he keeps in on during sex, kind of kinky but not as fun I bet."

"Please Anko-chan, the youthful shouldn't talk about such things in public!" Gai told her.

Anko scowled a bit at him, "Okay first, you're only a few years older than me and I've told you not to call me that. Secondly, I'm old enough to say whatever I want."

"Anyways," Asuma decided to steer the conversation back, in case Gai got Anko railed up. "Who is this girl, another ninja?"

"I'm not sure," Gai paused for a moment, he hadn't actually thought about that. "I don't remember her face but her name was...uh...Hare?"

"Hare?" The others echoed.

"What is she a rabbit?" Anko joked.

"I think Gai just doesn't remember it right," Asuma stated simply as he knew that sometimes Gai had trouble with people's names when they were new. "Still now I have to wonder who this mystery woman is."

"Then I say we go and find out," Anko said standing up. "I want to see this woman that Kakashi is dating."

-Elsewhere in the Village-

Sakura was walking through the village mainly she was just killing time because Kakashi said they wouldn't have any training until the afternoon. She didn't mind, after all they all knew that their sensei was going to be showing Hanare around and helping her out for the morning. Although it was a little boring with just herself and Sasuke was off training by himself again until they were supposed to show up.

So she went out to help with the shopping for her mother while her parents were busy at the shop they owned and ran. She was had just finished with that and now had to figure out what to do with the rest of the morning.

"Hey Forehead."

Sakura felt a vein throb, there was only one person that called her that as she looked over her shoulder to see Ino and her teammates.

"What do you want Ino-pig?" Sakura asked back.

Ino's eyes squinted for a slight moment, the name having a reaction but Ino put set that aside, for now. She walked up to Sakura wondering about yesterday and if what she had heard had been true. "So, was I right? Was your sensei actually on a date yesterday?"

Now that both girls were into the realm of 'girl talk' any and all hostilities were put on hold, as was stated in the girl code.

Sakura's face lit up at that, "Yeah he was," She said excitedly. "And you'll never guess what, she was actually a ninja from another village."

"No way!" Ino was getting into this. "From what village?"

"It was Lock and she was caught as a spy too," Sakura told her rival. "We went on a mission to give her back since one of ours was taken." She explained the whole scene of having to return Hanare and how when she and her team caught up at the cliff, Hanare had chosen to join the leaf.

Ino let out a girly squeal, "Oh my god that is just so romantic!"

"I know," Sakura beamed. "She's now a member of the leaf and they can now be together. She's even living with him now!"

"Oh my god that is fast!" Ino was shocked by it but intrigued.

"Man do we have to be here for this?" Shikamaru asked bored long ago with this. "When Ino dragged us to this I thought it might be more interesting."

"Well it kind of is," Choji said to his best friend. "I mean this is the first time one of our senseis have been seen dating someone. We don't know much about Asuma-sensei after all."

"Yeah he's right," Ino looked to Shikamaru her hands on her hips. "I mean what if Asuma-sensei was dating someone wouldn't you like to know about it?"

"Not really," The Nara boy shrugged looking even more bored. "It's not my business and besides if there is anything I learned from my parents marriage, is that relationships are too troublesome to get into."

"I feel really bad for the woman that marries you one day," Ino said angrily at him.

"Not like I'm looking for one anytime soon you know," Shikamaru said back to her. All he wanted out of life was to have a mediocre job as a ninja, preferably with not too little work but not too much, with enough time to just lie on the ground and look at the clouds. Then he would go home to his wife that wouldn't be too pretty just someone average looking was enough for him. An average life with no responsibilities, expectations or trouble, that's all he wanted out of life.

"Anyways," Sakura said pulling the conversation back, "He told us yesterday that training would be in the afternoon since he was supposed to be helping her shop for things."

"Oh I have got to see this," Ino grinned with glee.

"Well count us out," Shikamaru told them leaving the two girls alone. "Come on man, we got other things we could be doing."

"Yeah, we'll see you later Ino," Choji told his female teammate.

-Kakashi and Hanare-

For the two ninja it had been a productive morning, Hanare was enjoying being shown a few shops and already had the basics covered. She still needed a few new sets of clothing but those would be last, she was just thankful that Kakashi took her around. It would have taken her a lot longer to get everything settled.

"Thanks again for doing all of this," Hanare told him.

"It's nothing," Kakashi told her.

"But it's not," She insisted. "You've let me have a place to stay and have helped me so much, I feel I could spend a lifetime not being to repay you for everything that you've done for me. Plus you're also helping me with the shopping too."

Kakashi was currently holding a bag of her purchases. He didn't mind and he knew she would need the free hand for the clothing later. He just chuckled at it, "Don't worry about it, besides you're now a member of the village as we look out for each other. If there is one thing that the Leaf Village does is that we are supposed to work together and be there for each other."

Hanare liked that, it was a lot better than her life with the Lock Village. She smiled as she came up with an idea. "You know for a thank you, I think I'll cook tonight."

"Oh?" Kakashi asked her intrigued. Sure he knew how to cook but it was pretty basic stuff, you could live off it and there were a few things he could do really well, but he also couldn't remember the last time anyone cooked for him.

She nodded, "Yes, I once had to infiltrate another village as a cook so I was taught many dishes."

"Just how many jobs have you had to learn?" Kakashi asked. "I know about the singer and now a cook, so what else?"

Hanare thought about it, "I've been trained to pass as those, as a seamstress, an accountant, a waitress, a dancer to name some of what I've done."

"Dancer?" Kakashi asked thinking of the more erotic kind.

Hanare didn't think that way as she just nodded, "Yes both as a professional and the type you might find in street performers."

"Ah," Kakashi suddenly had an image of her in loose and colourful clothing, maybe along flowing shirt as she danced. He quickly pushed that image aside as he felt himself heating up at the mental image. Now was not the time to fantasize about her like that.

Hanare stopped at a shop to look at the dress in a window it was a very nice long shirt with a matching top that tied off at the side, having a V-neck like design and with no sleeves.

"See something you like?" Kakashi joked as she nodded sheepishly.

Little did they know that they had been followed for a while now. Down the street were the adult ninja Anko, Kurenai, Asuma and Gai. Across the street hiding in an alleyway were Ino and Sakura both groups having found the shopping pair.

"I'm seeing it and yet I don't believe it," Asuma said as their group was trying to look like a normal group of friends just walking about. Asuma had to admit, the girl with him was a beauty. "So...That's her huh?"

Kurenai caste him a look but quickly turned away to look at the woman, she was young and very good looking even with no makeup on. She had this plain and yet youthful beauty about her.

"Okay, Kurenai if you put us under a genjustu I'm going to be pissed," Anko looked at her friend.

"I didn't."

"Okay then, so Kakashi Hatake now has a girlfriend," Anko stated still finding it hard to believe. "I think I have now seen almost everything in life. Is he even going shopping with her?"

"It is a little bizarre," Asuma stated knowing Kakashi professionally for years and never remember him in a relationship. Sure there might have been the odd women here or there but things like that happened in their busy lives. Sometimes it was hard to find time for a relationship, usually it led to dating other ninja as civilians couldn't understand some of the things a ninja had to face. Then if you dated another ninja it too could cause problems, either professionally or personally.

The thing is, he never once saw Kakashi actually out on a date and she was smiling a lot too so she was enjoying herself.

"My eternal rival," Gai was on the verge of a waterfall of 'man tears' looking at the scene. "You're youthful display is moving."

"Okay I feel a bit bad spying on this," Kurenai stated looking at the scene. "They seem happy and I feel like we're doing something we shouldn't."

"But that's all the fun," Anko whined. "I mean we should at least see where this leads to right?"

"I don't think so," Kurenai stated flatly.

"Yeah I'm with Kurenai," Asuma told them. "We've seen them and have confirmed that Gai wasn't mistaken."

"Aren't you curious about who she is?" Anko asked them hoping they would take the bait.

"You can find out later," Kurenai stated as she made her way to her training grounds. "If I don't leave now I'll be late to meet my students and for the rest of you I think you should do the same. We do have work to do and we have plenty of time about this. Besides we should at least give them their privacy don't you think?"

"She's right," Asuma stated getting a cigarette out, "I got my own team to get too soon as well and I've seen enough. Besides spying on fellow ninja isn't very 'youthful' right Gai?"

"You are right my friend," Gai sighed as he straightened up. "Besides, I need to continue on with my own quest to catch up with my rival."

"Good luck with that," Anko said flatly as she watched him go off. She sighed as the only one left it just wasn't as fun. Well she had her own things to do but she put this off for future fun to have. Watching the two she had to admit, this was going to be some fun times until this got old. If there was anything that got around the village faster than news it was gossip. She walked off now going back to thinking on what she was going to do for her part in the exams coming up.

While the adults were leaving Ino and Sakura were still following the two.

"Oh my god is he buying her clothing now?" Ino asked although she could see just as well as Sakura could.

"Looks like it," Sakura grinned.

They had been watching the 'second date' and so far it looked very nice. Kakashi had actually taken her shopping and was even carrying some of her purchases. Although Sakura had wondered about their teacher for awhile now, after all he read those books in public all the time, giggling while reading it too at times. Then there was his laid back attitude and without a care in the world posture, constantly late and she didn't even know what he looked like under that mask.

Yet to her surprise he was being a total gentleman for this date, there was a whole side of her sensei that she had never seen before and the hopeless romantic in her couldn't help but squeal at the sight of it all. It was a text book date that was going very well.

"Oh this is getting good," Ino grinned at them. 'Why can't I get Sasuke-kun to take me out like this?'

"I never knew that Kakashi-sensei was so good with women," Sakura stated watching them go into the store. The two moved across the street while they watched them through the store window. "I can't wait to see what they do next."

"It's nice to see someone having a successful love life," Ino remarked to herself and noticed that Sakura heard it too. So Ino stood up straight, "That is until I get Sasuke-kun to fall for me that is."

"Yeah right! He's mine and you know it Ino-Pig!" Sakura shouted out at her.

"Like he would go out with someone with such a big forehead!"

"Better than someone who's always so loud and eats like a pig!"

"I do not eat like a pig, you take that back!"

And now the familiar fighting between the two started out as the couple inside were quickly forgotten about. Meanwhile back into the store the two ninja were currently still doing some light clothing shopping.

"Kakashi, do you hear something?" Hanare asked looking at a shirt thinking of getting.

"Oh I wouldn't worry," Kakashi stated his back to the store window. "You'll most likely hear strange things all the time, this is a lively place and all kinds of things will happen. " Kakashi glanced out the window seeing Sakura and Ino fighting across the street. He had no idea why those two or the other four had been following him for the past little while but he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

Kakashi thought he might have to up Sakura's training in evading and talk to Asuma about Ino's. Those two had been pretty obvious. At least the adults he hadn't noticed they were following him until a few minutes. Then again they had Gai in their party and if there was one weakness Gai had, it was that the man couldn't really do anything low key even if he wanted to.

So what was all the focus about? He really couldn't understand why the sudden fascination was on him or was it because of Hanare? Sure he could see some of it because of her, she was new and given her past as a ninja of another village, yeah he could see why some would be interested even concerned.

"Oh this looks nice," Hanare's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

Kakashi froze for a moment she was in a long white sundress, it was held up by shoulder straps and have a nice green trim to it that went well with the dress. It had an open back and as she did a twirl in it Kakashi just stood there transfixed.

"What do you think? Does this look good?" Hanare asked hoping for a second opinion as she looked in a full length mirror.

Kakashi blinked before his brain could find the words, "Uh...yeah it looks really nice on you."

She beamed at him as she went to change and get it ready, it would be nice to have a nice dress to wear on her days off if she needed it.

Kakashi could only stare as he watched her vanish into the changing room as the elderly woman that ran the story watched from her counter. "You have a nice young woman there."

Kakashi nodded, "I think she will fit in well to the village."

"Oh new to the village eh?" The old woman asked with a grin. "You youngsters today, how long have you two been together?"

Kakashi wondered how she knew that he was putting Hanare up until she found her own place. Then again people did love to talk, "a couple of days, although we did meet each other as children years ago apparently."

"Oh my that sounds lovely," The old shop owner smiled thinking the two were childhood friends that had become something more. It was a lovely thought that she decided to cut them a slight deal and knock a little off the total price. After all she had met her husband as a child and it was also lovely to watch young couples together. The two just seemed so at ease with each other it was plain to her that they had to have known each other for years.

Kakashi saw the strange look the old woman was giving him and shrugged it off, what was it that was making everyone act so strange lately?

Next up chapter 4: Life as a Leaf Ninja

And seasons greetings to all.