Chapter 4

Gai had to think about this. The girls were convinced he was in love with Kakashi. And if he was in love with the man, then their offer could prove invaluable. He thought back to all the times he had spent with Kakashi. Was he in love? If so how had he not been able to see his youthful and pure feelings for what they were? Gai had always thought he could see underneath the underneath, but here three girls had turned his life upside down with one simple word.

It was true that if he hadn't spoken to these girls about their own youthful feelings he wouldn't have even considered the possibility of beings in love. Yet everything they had said rang true: he did think about Kakashi all their time, he had always found him attractive (he had previously told himself he noted this as a part of their rivalry only and there was nothing wrong with it), he always sought him out for his company and opinions. Gai hated to be apart from him. He worried about Kakashi every time he left for a mission that he may not return and the thought made him cold with dread.

Gai 's eyes went wide- he really was in love.

And now that he knew he had to do something about it- but what?

"Admirable young kunoichi!" Gai boomed. "I am in love with my rival. Your most youthful deductions have revealed to me a most honourable and pure love."

The four girls squealed with delight. Kunoichi loved to be proven correct; especially over a man.

Gai puffed his chest out and smiled his best teeth gleaming smile. A romantic red sunset seemed to appear from nowhere though it was still afternoon.

"So..." Gai said. "What now?"

"What do you mean, 'what now'?" Ino smacked her head in exasperation. "We need to set you up obviously."

"Set me up?"

"Yes, as a couple!"

"Oh. Of course! Haha!" Gai produced some sort of battle laugh as if this were just another challenge. Then his face crumpled to confusion again. "Erm... but how, young ones?"

Ino was about to snap back but then fell into contemplation. "Hmmmm this will need a female touch. You would be hopeless on your own."

Tenten glared at her friend. Only she could say that sort of thing about her sensei.

"Yes, what if Kakashi-sensei doesn't love Gai-sensei back?" Sakura asked.

Tenten wanted nothing more than to shout that if he didn't then he wasn't worthy of her sense or their time. But Gai's anxious and worrying pout, with water eyes full of emotion stopped the words from tumbling out. Instead she sighed.

"Well we will just have to convince him then."

An evil smile spread across Ino's face. "Don't worry Gai-sensei. I think you'll find we can be very persuasive."

"But Kakashi-sensei is really hot! And what is he isn't gay?" Sakura interrupted.

Tenten slyly kicked her shin. As Saukra hopped on one foot, Tenten went "Opps!" As gross as it was to say out loud, Gai-sensei was just as hot in her opinion- bowl cut aside of course...

"Don't worry about the gay thing- I heard Tsunade-sama say to Jiraiya-sama that Kakashi sensei is such a pervert that he'd do anything that moves! So you are in luck Gai-sensei!" She gave him a thumbs up, which after a slight hesitation he decided to return- he was Gai after all.

Sakura considered defending Kakashi-sensei, but thinking about it he did read those pervey books all the time. And this information did come from the great Tsunade-sama.

"So," Ino said, suddenly sounding militant, as if they were headed for a battle. "We need a plan of action! The 'Set up our Sensei' plan!"

"Right!" the other three girls yelled back. Gai saluted.

"Step One," Ino continued, enjoying having their full attention for once. "That would usually be the introduction; but you two already know each other. So we move onto Step Two: find some common ground- we need to find out you and Kakashi-sensei has in common Gai-sensei."

"OK!"

"So Gai-sensei, what hobbies do you share? Soul mates should be able to do stuff together and like some of the same things."

"Well we both enjoy a hot blooded challenge to push ourselves-"

"Sorry to break it to you Gai-sensei but you enjoy the challenges. Kakashi-sensei is very lazy and only takes part after a lot of nagging on your part. If he didn't have to get up I'm sure he'd just sleep all day."

"Erm, Sakura-chan?" Hinata said. "Maybe you could tell us what Kakashi-sensei likes to do in his free time?"

"Hmmm. Well when he originally introduced himself to us he said he didn't feel like telling us what he liked and what he hated...and that he hadn't thought about the future. But he did say he has lots of hobbies!"

"What hobbies, billboard brow!"

"He errr- he didn't say."

The other four ninja sweat dropped.

"Wow, even Asuma-sensei told us more than that..."

"Anyway that's not important- we actually do know one very obvious interest!"

They all looked at each other: "Reading Icha Icha!"

"So all we have to do is get Gai-sensei to talk to him about his favourite books!"

"No that won't work," Tenten pointed out. "What if he asks Gai-sensei questions about it he doesn't know? And Gai-sensei isn't a big reader, he'd never make it through all those books..."

"Well we can find him some other pervey books to read in public!"

"And I know just where to get them!" Ino beamed. She was watching Sakura with a menacing grin.

The pink haired girl gasped. "You wouldn't?!"

"Don't you want to help Gai-sensei and Kakashi-sensei find true love?"

"Well...yes."

"Then it's settled! To Sakura's house!"