A/N: My apologies for the slow update. I'm done with Uni at the moment, and this next semester shouldn't be too difficult, so hopefully I can update sooner. A huge thanks to Mary B. Wolf & Mystic Spirits for their awesome beta-ing powers. You two are amazing and this story wouldn't be where it is without you. Comments and ConCrit are always encouraged & appreciated, but not necessary. Thank you to everyone who has read, favorited, & lurked. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well! Stick around for awhile, things get interesting :) - Deni

Kakashi sat silently in the small, old-fashioned restaurant flipping through the pages of a two-month-old magazine and occasionally sipping on his now-lukewarm tea. He glanced over at a table not far from his, where the leader of his team, Kinaka, was meeting another fellow. He didn't know much about this short, shady-looking man or what the meeting was even about. He was just there as extra muscle, not that Kinaka needed it.

When Kakashi had first met Kinaka, he had been quite surprised. He appeared quite young, but was more experienced than he looked. He was a charismatic man who did not hesitate to show his dominance. He was brutal in his acts and firm with his words. With a distinctive twang to his voice, Kakashi knew that he was not from around these parts. He often wondered where exactly he came from, then, but mentally rummaging over images and information from the bingo book resulted in nothing on this rusty-red-haired, blue-eyed man. Even his name, Kinaka, suited him far too well, which made Kakashi believe it wasn't really his.

Gold and red. Kakashi snorted. He'd never known a mother to name her child after his hair color, of all things.

He took another sip of his drink, the bitter flavor rolling down his tongue, and turned another page. A combination of delicious scents wafted to his nose every time the door to the kitchen swung open: noodles, broths, meats, vegetables - they all smelled and looked scrumptious. His stomach rumbled lightly. If only he weren't here on business … There was a cozy looking table by the window that he bet would be a nice place to laze, eat, and read some Icha Icha.

There was a young doe-eyed girl at the register he noticed stealing a glance from time to time. Keeping himself entertained, he met her gaze and offered a smile and a simple wave. She was startled by his action and immediately blushed, realizing she had been caught looking. He fought to contain a chuckle. She was promptly scolded by the elder employee and scuttled off to bus a couple of tables.

It was strange how quickly things could change.

A scrape and a clatter echoed as chairs toppled over, their owners hastily standing. Kakashi saw a flash of metal and rose from his own seat, but Kinaka's reflexes were sharp, and he blocked the attack with a crushing grip around his opponent's wrist. His other hand secured around the man's neck as he thrust him down onto the table. The patrons nearby shrieked and screamed as they moved out of the way of the commotion. Kakashi noticed then that four other men in the establishment had stood - ready to strike- and only one of them was on his side.

Still, it wasn't as if three against two was completely unfair. He'd been faced with worse odds before.

Kinaka glared down at the man, angry excitement glistening in his eyes as his nose flared. "Listen here, we made an order wit'cha and we paid for it in full. We expect the goods to be delivered as promised. I gotta tell ya, there's room for improvement in your business etiquette."

The man's face was darkening, the bright pink blushing into a deeper red as Kinaka watched, almost as if fascinated. His hands clawed at the god-like hold around his throat.

"Unless you want me to make your eyes pop outta your head, tell your men to stand down and we'll finish our conversation politely."

Struggling to lift his arm, the short man flashed a simple two-fingered signal. Kakashi watched as the man's three guards gave each other wary looks before settling back into their seats.

Kinaka eased his grasp. "Irinami, Nao, sit back down. Everything's alright here now, ain't it, friend?"

Gasping for much needed air, the man nodded eagerly. His voice came out hoarsely as he tried to speak. "O-of course."

"You should consider yourself lucky, we're givin' ya another three days to hold up on your end of the deal. And just to show there's no hard feelings, I'll up the bonus for completing it."

Kakashi and Nao shared a long look before sitting once again, leaving them to finish their discussion. He picked up the tatty magazine and flipped it open to a random page, noticing the looks of contempt being thrown his way. He sighed inwardly. His tea had gone cold and the girl would no longer smile at him. He really hoped to be done here soon; he wanted to go home.

~.oOo.~

Sakura's assumption of her partner's behavior was pretty spot-on. When they awoke and began their early morning travel he was as cold and quiet as he had been the day before. As easy as it would be to ignore him or brush him off in return, she simply couldn't do it. She was used to knowing the people she worked alongside. Most of the people she had been paired with before had some kind of history with her.

There was more to Shingo than his tough-guy exterior, she was sure. Besides, hadn't she at one point considered Yamato to be scary? Sai to be a quirky, traitorous, uncomprehending asshole? Kakashi to be aloof, cold, ruthless, and a pervert? Once she got to know these people, she learned she had been quite wrong - well, except for Kakashi's perverted ways, she mused.

If she could get to know Shingo, and if Shingo could come to know her, then perhaps they could get along better. She wasn't expecting friendship, but a mutual understanding of each other would do them some good.

It was late afternoon when the pair paused for a rest high in the canopy of a mighty oak tree. Sakura pulled her canteen free and when Shingo found his to be empty, she quietly offered up hers. Eyeing her with the same skepticism she had showed him just yesterday, he graciously took it.

She watched him surreptitiously as he drank. Fiddling with the snap that would hold her canteen in place, she spoke up. "Hey, Shingo?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, unsure if he liked her asking questions, before screwing the top back in place. "What about?"

"About you."

Thrusting the canteen back into her hands, he quickly cut her off. "I don't really like to talk about myself."

"Well, I-"

"Thanks for the water, though."

Then Sakura was left to watch him jump away. She stared after him in disbelief for a moment before strapping her water back in place and taking off after him. Was answering a question or two really that difficult? Why didn't he want to tell her anything? Did she smell, the stench so bad he couldn't bear the thought of breathing it while talking to her?

There was nothing wrong in her eyes about making conversation. Her inner self chastised her. She should leave well enough alone, but she couldn't. She was curious, and like it or not, she was stuck with him. And whether he liked it or not, she was determined to learn something about him by the time they reached Ametsuchi.

Speeding up to him, she decided to try again. "Can't you tell me anything about yourself?"

Shingo nearly rolled his eyes. Couldn't she leave him be and concentrate on where they were going? "You're quite a persistent one, you know that?"

"Well, I didn't get to my status on my looks alone."

He quirked a brow, but even he knew enough about women not to comment on that.

Sensing his hesitation, she decided that maybe she'd talk instead. "Did you know that even though my hair color is pink, I don't really like the color pink? Everyone seems to think I do just because it's the color of my hair. See? This is easy. Can't you humor me?"

He huffed under his breath, hiding a single laugh. "No."

"If you'd just try, then maybe-"

"Listen, Sakura, I'm a good ninja. I spent eight years in ANBU, I fought through the Fourth War. I'm a man dedicated to my village." Memories of his home swirled around his mind of his wife and his daughter, of his friends and the monument that overlooked the village - a visual reminder of whom he served and of the ones who had ruled before, the legacy of those that had served before him. "Konoha is the place I treasure most. That should tell you everything you need to know. I don't like small talk. Let's try not to get into each other's personal lives too much, okay?"

Sakura paused at the next branch. His words had stopped her once more and she was shocked by him - again. Beneath the surprise, she suddenly found that she had a different view of him. Maybe he was right. Maybe she really had been going about it all wrong. Besides, she thought as she smiled to herself, in spite of saying so little to her, he'd told her more than she could hope to know. Perhaps not all was lost when it came to forming some kind of relationship.

Springing forward, Sakura felt more at ease. Maybe Shingo wasn't as bad as she had originally thought. She traveled behind him the remainder of the day, content to stay quiet and mull over information in her head. Upon entering Ametsuchi, she figured they would find a place to sleep before scouting out the village and asking about Kakashi. A tiny shock of disappointment slipped through her. They still had two more days, including a stop along the border of Frost, before they'd reach Ametsuchi. She hoped that, whatever the situation was, Kakashi was okay.

Then, suddenly, there was a little warning going off in her head. Something in the air was off. She raced to Shingo's side. He had already come to a stop, crouched low, his eyes searching the forest around them.

"You felt it, too, then?" she asked.

Nodding once, he glanced up at her. "The question is, where is it coming from?"

And that was a good question. Without a word, she leapt through the trees so that she was to the north of him. What good were two sets of eyes if they were both looking from the same vantage point? Now in her spot, the duo remained in visual contact.

Shingo kept his eyes trained on their surroundings. Who would be coming through these parts? They weren't even near a main trail. A sharp bird call gained his attention, and with a few signals from Sakura, he turned in the direction she indicated. A quartet of men came into view. They all seemed to be in a bad mood. Malicious intent seemed to radiate off of the shorter, older man in the middle. As they neared, the conversation grew louder.

He paused to signal Sakura but found she was a step ahead, already leaving her position and sneaking her way closer to the men.

"Why didn't you let me take 'em on, boss?"

"Kinaka's men always rub me the wrong way. Man, I would have loved to have gotten my hands on that new guy."

"What he did to you was disrespectful!"

"We could have taken them, no problem."

The cronies continued to make a fuss, which only seemed to further irritate the boss. His clenched fists lashed out at the one closest to him. "In case you've forgotten, we're getting paid a lot of money for this! If you don't like it, I can take your share of the bonus! Ingrate!" He threw one last unbalanced punch before a crazed growl escaped him.

Cowered behind his raised hands, the assaulted goon nervously piped up. "Sorry, boss."

Rubbing his now-sore knuckles, he kicked at the ground. "I'm just glad we're on the same side," the grumpy man commented as he picked up walking again, his temper abated for now.

"Me, too. I guess," one of the others continued, easily shifting them back into conversation as they moved on. "I just don't trust that Kinaka guy."

"Whatever. We have a lot of packaging to do."

"Don't remind me."

"Will you two shut up?" the leader griped.

Their conversation only faded further out from there. Shingo felt her chakra signal just seconds before Sakura appeared on the branch beside him and he shifted his attention to her. Eyes honed in on the horizon where the men had faded from view, there was a different look settled upon her features. She almost looked worried and he understood why. That name, Kinaka, was mentioned in the disclosure of their mission, the 'right hand man.'

"He's working this far out." Her soft voice reached him. "We're going to have to be more careful."

He knew she was right. That night, they took extra precautions, taking the time to secure the perimeter of their campsite. They ate their dehydrated dinner in silence. The common hoots and chirps of the nocturnal creatures buzzed about them, filling what would normally be conversation. Tonight, Sakura didn't actually mind.

Kakashi had been connected to Kinaka somehow, she knew that much from the scroll, and by the sound of it, those men didn't think he was a trustworthy person. Whatever they were providing for him, it was a large order. What could it be? What would it be used for? Could this be a part of his mission that was classified?

Tired of thinking on it anymore, she roughly shoved the rest of the package of food into her bag. Casting a glance across the fire, she tried not to let her uneasiness show. "I'll take first watch tonight."

Shingo wasn't going to argue; he quite enjoyed not having the first watch. "Alright then."

Leaving Sakura with her thoughts, Shingo went to roll out his bedding. Hearing how the men had spoken earlier about Kinaka's character wasn't all too surprising. It wasn't unusual to find oneself in questionable company when working undercover, but the fact that Kakashi had altogether ceased communication was. He wanted to hurry to Ametsuchi and meet these people himself. His only concern was Hatake. Was he actively with Kinaka on whatever outings these were? Why hadn't he checked in?

Gazing up at the stars, he slipped his hand into his pocket and felt the tiny marble hidden away in it. It had only been two days, but he hoped Mirai was doing just fine without her prized treasure. Smiling to himself, and secure in their site, he closed his eyes and caught up on sleep. They'd be moving again come dawn.

~.oOo.~

Sakura hadn't realized she had fallen asleep until a repetitive twitching began to bump into her arm. Forcing her eyes to open, she lifted her head groggily and looked around. The hand beside her jumped again and she bolted upright, her back cracking and popping from the strain of the unusual leant-forward position she had fallen asleep in.

She immediately curled her smaller hand around his, resting her other hand upon his forearm. Intently, she watched him with hope fluttering in her chest. His head shifted and his brow creased, and she subconsciously moved forward. After a strained moment, his eyelids began to pry open, attempting to adjust to the florescent light.

As soon as his mismatched gaze met her misty-eyed one, a relieved smile dropped onto his face. The tiny action set off an internal reaction inside her. Bowing her head, she was overcome with emotion. With so many, she didn't know which one to grasp onto, so she went with the easiest - anger.

"Is that it? How can you bring yourself to smile at me?" she bit out.

His reply was dry, hoarse, and a simple request. "Water."

She swiped the pitcher and a glass from the bedside, hastily filling it half way before holding it out to him. When he didn't take it, she glared at him, only to realize that he couldn't take it. Heaving a sigh, she ripped open a straw, curved it, and dropped it in the cup. Offering it to him again, she shoved the straw past his lips. He made a tiny noise at her hostility, but she ignored him, mumbling about shoving the entire cup down his throat.

When he was done, something resembling his natural voice returned. "Thank you."

She slammed the glass back in place. "How could you?"

"Sakura-"

"What were you thinking?" Her voice rose, distress obvious. "And don't give me one of your lame excuses!"

He didn't say a word, didn't offer her anything but his thoughtful stare. That look, he was appraising her and even now it made her feel uneasy. She hated that look and wished he'd turn it on himself.

Her open palm came down onto his arm, a half-hearted slap with none of her fire behind it, but it still stung on his injury. "You can't say anything? You almost died on me!"

Sakura thought that maybe the heart monitor had a tiny hiccup there, but she could never be certain. Her head dipped again, roseate tresses falling like a curtain to cover her face. She concentrated on the sheets and his hand in her peripheral. In the tiny chorus of beeps and drips of the I.V., her anger dwindled, replaced by the overwhelming realization of having nearly lost him.

"I don't have to tell you what an amazing ninja you are, but you're not invincible, Kakashi."

Tears pricked at her eyes then, and it didn't even register to her that after years of him telling her to drop the sensei from his name, that it was the first time she had actually done so. He was so unbelievably important to her, and when he had been brought in the nurses had panicked and chaos had ensued. He had been so gravely injured and she had been so scared…

She didn't want to feel that scared again and it spurred her to take on an authoritative tone with him, something she wouldn't have normally done. "Wait for back up next time."

His voice came quietly, earnest. "Alright."

Relief and happiness finally took hold of her and the tears she could no longer contain spilled down her face and pitter-pattered onto his hospital bed. Her eyes widened as the familiar touch of his fingers slid into her hair, weakly ruffling it like he had when she was younger - only this time something about it felt very different. It didn't feel like the awkward, kind gesture of a sensei to his pupil; it was much more tender.

She lifted her head, crying eyes be damned, and met his gaze again. His hand slipped down her face, a finger following a fat tear along her cheek before brushing it away.

"Thank you, Sakura."

"Sakura, hey!"

She jerked awake, her eyes focusing on the man above her, the rest of her world a dark green blur behind him. A worried look crossed Shingo's face, or maybe she was just seeing things.

"It's time to get up and break camp. We've got some distance to cover today."

Voice still thick with sleep and biting back a yawn, she answered, "Okay. I'll pack up if you'll deactivate the traps."

Shingo gave a short nod before he set about his business. Sakura pulled herself up to sit when a tear made its way down her face. She hastily wiped it away and sighed to herself. It must have been the dream (and probably why Shingo looked at her the way he had). She knew she didn't have time to dwell on it. Freeing herself from her bedroll, she stood and stretched.

If her dreams were any indication, she was anxious to see Kakashi again, to see with her own eyes that he was okay. Perhaps that was why she packed their camp away so quickly. When Shingo returned, he was surprised to find that she was nearly done. Helping her to diminish any traces of their presence, he practically fed off of her energy. He could understand why she was so eager. They were halfway there and tonight they would be sleeping in a bed. Nothing was going to dampen his mood, nor hers.

~.oOo.~

As the pair neared the fork in the trail that would lead them to the area marked on the map, they decided to take to the ground. It would be a straight shot from here and neither of them wanted to chance missing it. It was already late in the evening, the sun long set beyond the horizon. In the darkness, they used the moon and stars to guide them, their focus sharp as they sprinted away down the trail.

Sakura was beat, her legs sore from nearly non-stop travel. A bed and pillow sounded so sweet, and after this final stop, they'd be a single day from their destination. That thought alone helped her press forward.

Speeding down the trail, Shingo noticed what appeared to be a small structure ahead. He whistled long and low, signaling them to slow to a steady walk. She must have noticed it, too, he realized, because as she strolled up beside him, she was already asking questions.

"Is that it?"

He nodded. "I believe so."

Nestled in the surrounding trees, what seemed to be a simple hut came into view. The wooden structure reminded Sakura of Yamato and the quick housing he'd often compose for them during missions and she allowed herself to smile.

It was camouflaged beautifully; the sides, corner, and even the roof seemed to have been born from the trees themselves. Upon reaching it, they paused in awe. It was much larger than they believed. Sakura came up the knotted roots that served as stairs and raised her hand to knock. The door was suddenly wrenched open, and there stood an elderly woman, short, grey-haired, and eyes set hard, scrutinizing their appearance.

When she didn't greet them, Sakura turned to look at her partner, unsure of what to do next. So she put on a smile. "Hello, ma'am-"

"You must be the Leaves whose color needs changing," she said as she reached into her vest pocket. She raised a slender pipe to her lips. The woman puffed on it, silence hanging thickly around them, before exhaling deeply. "You can tell your Hokage I said that it's time for a raise. Come inside."

Shingo and Sakura traded a questioning look before entering the house. Even inside it smelled like the forest - earthy, fresh, and comforting- while the rich, spicy scent of tobacco lingered. They looked around in admiration. Everything was made of wood: chairs, tables, all the windows and doors. Plants were thriving on the walls, vines, flowers, and leaves woven like a border at the top where it met the ceiling.

"I have two rooms ready for use. I'm sure you must be tired, but I'm afraid there's no time for sleep yet, Shingo and Sakura."

"You know who we are?" Shingo asked her.

Her lips curled into a smile around the pipe. "It's my job to know these things, my boy."

He seemed a little taken back. "It's been a long time since anyone has called me a boy. What shall we call you?"

She nodded, blue-grey curls bouncing along her head. "People simply refer to me as Hayai-te. Come, I'll measure you first," she said with a jab toward Shingo's chest.

"Measure?" Sakura questioned.

"For your clothes. What did you think you were here for?" the woman squawked.

Honestly, Sakura had no idea. This house was only marked and they were ordered to stop there. No other details had been given. The woman huffed and led Shingo down the hall. "The people Leaf sends me these days. You all get stranger and stranger. In my generation we had a bit more respect, some finesse and …"

Her voice muted as she shut the door behind her, but what she had mentioned made Sakura a bit curious. Had Kakashi come here as well? Did Hayai-te really think she and Shingo were stranger than him? She shook her head - she could hardly believe that.

Deducing that the other room was for her, she went inside and set her pack down. The furniture was all made of wood in here as well. A small dresser and the bed both looked as if they were pulled straight out from the walls. She ran her hand along the surface of the dresser; it was incredibly smooth.

Crossing the room, she decided to plop down onto the bed. She wrapped her hand around the top of the bedpost, still marveling over the craftsmanship. She rested her head against her arm and surveyed the room, picking out some of the smaller details like the curled tendrils around the light or the flower emblems that appeared to be carved along the doorway. She sought out all of the tiny nature-themed designs until her eyes became too heavy to hold open any longer.

Once she dozed off, she did not sleep long as Hayai-te was not a quiet person. She entered the room without hesitation and ushered Sakura's half-awake self onto her feet, measuring tape already in hand.

"Stand up straight," she chastised.

"Sorry," Sakura mumbled sleepily. "So, Hayai-te, are you a ninja too?"

She nodded with a hum. "For the last sixty years. Turn around."

Sakura did as was instructed, barely feeling her hands as they moved about her. "I don't think I've seen you in the village before."

"I haven't been back in nearly fifteen years, that's probably why. I earn my living out here."

Sakura peered back over her shoulder at her. "Doesn't it get lonely?"

"Your partner was right, you are a bit chatty," Hayai-te commented with a chuckle.

Sakura's eyes narrowed and her voice dropped, annoyed that he'd say such a thing. "Chatty?"

"No need to get defensive, girl. You'd be surprised at how many people I get to interact with, but not many like to hold a conversation. So it's a treat when I get to meet someone who enjoys talking."

Her statement left Sakura curious. "So when was the last time you had a good conversation?"

"Hmm … a couple months or so back, fine gentleman he was. There, I'm all done."

Already? That was quick. Even the expert tailors in Konoha didn't work as fast. She turned to face her wondering if perhaps…

"He… the man, he wouldn't have happened to have grey hair and wear a mask?"

Hayai-te pulled her pipe out and stuck it in her mouth; a look of contemplation fell across her face. The flakes of tobacco burned a bright orange as she puffed. The smoke tickled Sakura's nose and she silently hoped she wouldn't sneeze all over the hospitable woman. If she did, she was sure she'd never get an answer, so she discreetly rubbed at her nose, attempting to alleviate the feathery tingle.

After a moment, Hayai-te sighed. "I'm not allowed to disclose that information, sorry."

Running her fingers through her hair, Sakura sighed as well. She could have just said so instead of making her wait, anticipating some other answer. "It's alright, I understand."

With a mischievous smile, Hayai-te patted her on the arm. "He did have a book with him, though. I can't believe that kind of material is even allowed within the borders of Fire. We had quite a debate on the matter."

Sakura smiled to herself. He had been here. The older woman quietly shuffled out of the room, leaving her be. "I'll have your clothes ready in the morning. Rest up."

"Thank you."

Sakura sat on the bed and stared dumbly at the wall for a moment before falling back onto the smooth sheets. Eyeing the delicate vines decorating the ceiling and twisting the sheets in her hands, she allowed herself to really smile. Kakashi had been here, maybe even in this same room, and knowing that made her happy somehow.

Craning her head back, she could barely glimpse the moon from the window. She had no idea what time it was other than it constituted as being 'late,' and that morning would come faster than she'd think.

Lying on the fresh linen, worn from travel, it didn't take long for Sakura to relax and drift off to sleep.

~.oOo.~

The scant hours of sleep seemed to pass like minutes, and before the Konoha-nin knew it, morning was upon them. Hayai-te delighted in being their personal alarm clocks, barging into the rooms and waking them with a hard shake.

Sakura reflexively caught the bundle of clothes tossed her way, and while still rubbing sleep from her eye, Hayai-te said to her, "Get changed and put the rest away in a pack from the closet. The one you've been carrying makes it obvious that you're a ninja."

"Okay, thank you."

"Breakfast is almost ready."

With that, she parted, and Sakura pulled herself from the bed. She picked the first garment up, a drab wheat-colored top that really didn't suit her taste, but she really was in no position to be picky. She changed as quickly as she could after so little sleep before opening the door she believed to be the closet.

She was surprised at the variety of packs that were before her. With a shrug, she snatched up the closest one - a sturdy brown bag that smelled of moth balls - and began to transfer over her belongings. Exploring the new bag uncovered a secret pocket where she could stash some weapons. If worse came to worst, she needed to have some kind of protection.

"Come and eat while it's hot," she heard Hayai-te's voice call.

Unsnapping a special compartment in her pack, she retrieved the two scrolls. Running her thumb across the black tie, she decided that this place was as good as any. At least here it would be safe. Severing the tie on one, she began unrolling it when there was a knock on the door.

Shingo's deep voice resonated from the other side. "Hurry up, Sakura. We don't have time to waste. Ametsuchi is waiting for us."

"I'll be right out," she replied as she ran her bloody finger across the seal. Pushing herself under the bed, she stuck the unraveled scroll to the bottom of it. Staring up at the black seal, she worried her bottom lip. "You're the ace up my sleeve. I just hope I don't have to use you."

After gathering her belongings, she joined Shingo and Hayai-te for a quick breakfast of rice and miso soup. Soon afterwards, it was time for them to be on their way, but not before one more parting gift from Hayai-te. A new pair of shoes awaited both of them at the door and they were assured that their issued zori would be waiting for them on their return trip home. Stepping into their thong sandals they gave thanks to Hayai-te again, eager to be on the move.

Who could blame them? By dusk, they would be settling into Amestuchi and their mission would begin.