OOC: Surprise update? Keep those reviews/follows/favourites coming guys (:

More tweaks from the canon sequence of events:

1. Kisame and Deidara are currently happy Konoha nin (: More backstory on them will come at a more appropriate time (I simply adore Kisa's devotion to Itachi and Dei is just overall adorable, so they get to stay alive in my AU.)

2. I apologize if Sasuke is a little OOC, but I didn't entirely like his psycho personality in the series anyways so I've decided to make him a little more agreeable (and cute).

Warnings:

SasuNaru bromance and KakSaku tease

"Seriously…what was that?" Sasuke muttered under his breath as he and Naruto attempted to navigate their way back to the room that they were going to share for the night. Prior to the onsen disaster, as it was now informally known, he had been occupied in an interesting discussion with Neji on some information that the Hyuuga prodigy had picked up while he was in Kawa no Kuni. It appeared that Katabami Kinzan had once again fallen in favour among roaming ninjas and bandits alike, each dreaming of the promises that its rich ores and refineries held for the future. The younger Uchiha made a mental note to do some investigating once they arrived in Nami no Kuni. Perhaps the recent attacks on the villages surrounding the gold mine held some connections to the smuggling that Team 7 was assigned to investigate.

Two blue orbs appeared in Sasuke's periphery vision. Grinning, Naruto waved his hand childishly in front of his friend's face. "Hey Sasuke, you okay?"

"Hm? Yeah." The raven-haired teen paused only momentarily before giving the blonde an affirmative nod. "Neji just told me something interesting things that might turn out to be useful on our mission."

"What's that-attebayo?" the other replied, unlocking the door to the room that they shared. Both teens trod inside, hair damp from the disastrous onsen experience earlier that evening.

"He said that he had heard rumours that Katabami Kinzan was the target of planned assaults lately while he and Tenten were in Kawa no Kuni."

Naruto furrowed his eyebrows, taking a seat on the bed beside Sasuke. "Katabami Kinzan…that's the gold mine where we met Raiga."

"Raiga?"

"Yeah. The one they called Kirigakure no Raijin. He was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsman of the Mist." Naruto crossed his arms, looking out the window. "Neji, Lee, Tenten and I confronted him and Ranmaru back when we were still genin."

"And?" Sasuke prodded. He only knew the story from second-hand accounts, but felt that it would be much more worthwhile if he asked more directly.

The blonde took a deep breath before turning back to face him. "He said he hated Kisa nii-chan and then committed suicide. The guy had a weird liking for funerals and lightning-attebayo."

Sasuke could only chuckle. "At least you were able to save Ranmaru. Neji said he and Tenten went to visit him at the curry shop a few days ago and he is doing well."

Naruto grinned.

"What's so funny?"

"Don't you remember?!" The blonde's grin only grew wider. "The last time we went to visit him Itachi-nii made Kisa nii-chan eat five servings of Sansho baa-chan's premium curry!"

Sasuke shuddered at the vivid memory of his first taste of the potent red liquid and its resulting aftermath. At least Kisame had survived the entire ordeal with just a little more dignity. Sasuke couldn't remember the last time he felt so sick, and Itachi had to practically carry him on his back the rest of the way to Konohagakure. (Not that Sasuke minded.) Naruto and Sai had teased him for days afterwards. Picking up a pillow, the younger Uchiha took aim for the laughing blonde's face. It made contact just a fraction of a second later, sending his unfortunate target over the edge of the bed and onto the floor. "I know you're laughing at me."

"Am not!" Naruto retorted in a muffle voiced as he spat out a mouthful of pillow. "Besides," he tilted his head to the side curiously, "I still don't get what this has to do with our mission in Nami no Kuni."

Sasuke wanted to slam a palm to his face. "I never said it had to be important, baka. I just thought that might help with our investigation. It's not entirely impossible that someone similar to what Gato was could be orchestrating the entire operation with hired rogue ninja or other mercenaries."

"Hm…" Naruto folded his arms over his chest, thinking hard. "I…still don't get it."

"I didn't think you would." Sasuke sighed, heading for the door. "Come on. Let's go talk to Sakura and Kakashi-sensei."

"E-eh? Matte Sasuke!" Naruto called hurriedly, following him out of the room. "What about Itachi-nii and Kaori nee-chan?"

"They have orders not to assist us, dobe. Besides," the Uchiha paused, briefly recalling the size of the mizu no tatsumaki that had been released earlier with another shudder, "I think nii-san will have his hands full for quite a while."

Sakura never failed to surprise him, Kakashi thought as he observed the way she played with the edge of her dress, nervous energy laced into her fingers. Of course he and the rest of the Konoha males knew that they were being watched in the onsen, but had simply chosen the least costly action that consisted of ignoring the meddlesome women's silliness. However, that choice proved to be inappropriate in hindsight, if the intensity of the murderous aura that had surrounded the three kuniochis earlier had been any indication. So, here he was, trying to tread carefully in a relationship that hasn't exactly been able to set itself a course yet. The only thing that kept the silver-haired jonin optimistic was that Itachi was probably in a much more perilous situation than he or Neji.

Pushing himself off the wall that he had been leaning against for the past five minutes, Kakashi made his way to the pink-haired medic. She stiffened as he approached, and made it a point to look anywhere but at his face.

"Sakura, please look at me." He called to her, the gentleness of his voice breaking through her barricade effortlessly.

She sighed, relenting. The pink-haired kuniochi knew just how silly her jealousy was, but she couldn't help it. Kakashi could read the hesitation that had brewed in her eyes. "Sakura," he said, "is there anything you would like to talk about?"

It took a moment for her to nod. Then, she closed her eyes, trying to work up the courage to share what was on her mind. "I-I don't like it when they look at you that way sensei…"

As soon as those words left her mouth, she wanted to gawk at herself. That was totally not supposed to be the way it came out. Sakura almost sighed in frustration. He must think she was incredibly childish and naïve now that she's gone and blew her only chance at demonstrating her maturity. What if he regrets ever consenting to a relationship with me? The pink-haired kuniochi thought as cold fear washed through her. She averted her eyes to the floor again, not having the courage or the audacity to watch him for a reaction.

But, Kakashi surprised her. Chuckling, he brushed some hair away from her face tenderly and presses a kiss to her forehead. "I wouldn't have thought there was such a feisty side to you."

She blushed. "I-I know it's silly, sensei, but I couldn't help myself." Sakura kept her eyes glued to the floor beneath their feet. "I don't want you think of me as obsessive or anything..." She sighed, trailing off only when a pair of cool and delicious lips met hers. Giving into the kiss, Sakura felt all of her fears and worries gradually melt away into warmth and affection. What he did not convey with words, he expressed boldly with his actions. She was loved, and very much so.

Kakashi allowed a small smirk to linger at the corner of his lips once they pulled apart for air. "You can also drop the –sensei, Sakura. It makes me feel old."

"Don't be silly." She murmured against his chest. "That adjective doesn't even begin to describe you."

"I'm almost twice your age, young lady. I hope you know what you're getting into." He warned jokingly, kissing the side of her neck.

"Of course I do." She grinned. "You are Hatake Kakashi, Konohagakure's famous Copy Ninja and the most avid reader of the Icha Icha Paradise Series known to shinobi kind."

"You make it sound like it's such a bad thing." He chuckled in protest. Leaning in, Kakashi continued to whisper alluring in her ear "Those books also contain very useful material for these types of situations you know."

Despite the rosiness of her cheeks, Sakura only smirked. "We've got time." She purred seductively, sending shudders of desire down the silver-haired jonin's spine. "Why don't you teach me, K.a.k.a.s.h.i.-s.e.n. ~"

Sasuke could only sigh as he changed the massive wad of tissue paper stuck up Naruto's nose for the umpteenth time. If only the great Yondaime's son hadn't been in such a hurry to tell Itachi and Kaori the wonderful secret that he had discovered while outside Sakura and Kakashi-sensei's door, the younger Uchiha wouldn't be in this current mind-boggling predicament that all began with Naruto metaphorically waltzing into the older Uchiha's "private time" with a certain silver-haired kuniochi. "That's why I've always told you to knock before you try to enter someone else's room, baka."

The blonde groaned. "Itachi-nii's going to kill me isn't he?"

"That depends. Was nee-san completely naked?"

"Yup, but only if you discount the laced panties and matching corset."

Sasuke froze.

"Naruto?"

"Yeah?"

"You're fucked."