The village was small but it turned out that they had many small shops like the bookstore they had just left. All of them had broken, run down exterior that covered up the quality of the rare goods they held inside. It was the people outside that explained why.

Walking languidly in their half asleep states, Team 7 moved through the cramped area to their 'hotel'. They were greeted at the door by a 40 odd civilian woman who made Sakura feel downright well-dressed. She wore a full face of makeup, fluffy slippers and an extravagant silk dressing gown. Her hair was held up by bright pink rollers entwined in her brunette locks.

Her eyes were glancing over Kakashi like he was something to eat.

"Hello, and welcome to sweet dreams. I hope you will have a very pleasant stay here." She glanced Kakashi up and down. He flicked a page of his book. The woman ushered them all forward to a polished mahogany desk, standing directly in front of the copy ninja. "My name is Valerie and if you have any queries about either the establishment or the surrounding area, feel free to come talk to me, regardless of the time of day." Her eyes slid back to the copy ninja again. "I'm on the third floor, last room on the right."

She reached into a mahogany drawer and pulled out some keys.

"How many rooms will you be needing?"

Kakashi tilted his head towards Naruto and Sasuke who exchanged a quick glance.

"Three." Sasuke replied. She passed the keys quickly then led them upstairs to the second floor, where she deposited Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto in their rooms, before leading Kakashi up to the third floor.

Sakura waved at the boys from her open door before shutting it and glancing around the thoroughly unremarkable space. The walls were a clean pure white, but the paint did not disguise the cracks that ran across the skirting boards and the corners of the ceiling. Behind the bed, where no one other than a ninja would check, the wall had not been painted; apparently the room used to be a deep burgundy. Concealed by the wardrobe were patches of damp. The bathroom was small and that was all that could be said about it. Sakura nodded her head as she placed her pack on the floor. This room would suffice.

888

Kakashi had started zoning out again, and internally sighed as he brought his thoughts back into the present. To be fair, her voice was tedious while attempting to be husky and alluring. It wasn't working for her. Neither was the way she was reclining back so that she was leaning against his bed post.

She clearly knew no subtlety.

"…the bathroom has a tub as well as a shower, in case you want a long… hot… soak…" Her voice trailed off, her fingers rubbing against the side of her neck.

"Have you been bitten by something?"

"What?" He pointed to her neck.

"You kept rubbing at your neck. You don't have any pests here do you?"

"Absolutely not! I-"

Kakashi watched in amusement as the flustered woman hurriedly excused herself. Then he did as she suggested, and took a long… hot… soak.

Alone.

888

It was an irritating blonde that disturbed him just as he was drying off, with shouts about needing food.

Kakashi sighed; gone were the days when as kids Sakura would have shared a room with the boys, and could have got him some food herself. Sasuke was too lazy to do anything like find something edible, or stop Naruto involving their Sensei in his food rampages.

The hypo-ninja better be paying.

And the journey better take them past the bookshop. Ms Wannabe-Sexy had ruined the last novel for him.

888

A couple of dozen bowls of something definitely not ramen saw them to the store just before closing time; Naruto insisted that they stay and watch him eat quadruple the amount that they did. The ridiculous thing was that they would probably stop for a few take out bowls on the way back. Naruto really was a glutton.

Kakashi was once again in the back of the shop, as was a certain pink haired young lady. I thought she hated my books. He watched her discreetly using his peripherals while he 'examined' a book that he'd already read. In case small talk led her to ask about it.

Her shoulders were hunched over, and her teeth were obviously clamped down on her lower lip. Every now and then she would flick to a new page and would study it with a fierce curiosity before zoning out again.

All in all, she was being rather… odd.

And not in her usual way.

Kakashi moved to stand behind her, his nose almost brushing her ear. She was zoned out again, and her skin pale and clammy. She wasn't looking at the book at all.

And it was an image meant to be appreciated. A threesome angled perfectly to show all the necessary parts, the main focus on the well endowed brunette laid between two black haired men. The light from the window behind them shone directly onto the woman, highlighting her face and breasts. It was a painted image of the highest skill, so lovingly detailed. It must have taken hours.

"Exquisite isn't it?"

Sakura jumped, and felt her back brush against the man behind her; Kakashi had been reading over her shoulder. She blushed and look down at the page she had open.

"Um…yeah." her tone was surprised; she hadn't realised that these images could be beautiful, but it was. The image was so… soft, while portraying something that was definitely not.

"Please! Stop!" Her pleas were at their loudest now, her eyes scrunched shut. The cold waters of devastation fell anyway, but it did not really matter.

Tears would not stop her tormentor.

As she realised this, her eyes opened focused and clear. She did not scream anymore.

Sakura inhaled quickly, and flinched forward as her body hit the warm solid one behind her. She reached out for a random book, trying to pass that off as her original intention. It was not unnoticed by Kakashi.

He moved forward and reached over her shoulder for another novel.

"How about this one?" He picked up another copy and studied it briefly. This would do. He placed the first book back on its shelf and purchased the other one, leaving the store with a plain paper bag. A few minutes later, so did Sakura.

The journey back to the hotel was rather quiet and uneventful. Once they had passed the restaurant; Naruto was preoccupied by food. Sasuke was his usual quiet self and Kakashi had his masked face buried in the pages of his new book. Sakura was itching to do the same, but didn't dare. She would wait until she was alone.

The sun had started to set and instinctively all four ninja heightened their senses, becoming more alert and aware of the trees as they passed, of any movements in the shadows. They were looking for signs of their contact as much as anything. Only Kakashi would meet with him, but now that they were at the village they would need a time and place. They also had to be wary of any enemies; their mission was an important one and if anything had leaked their enemies would likely be aiming for death.

Preoccupied as they were, the walk went quickly and they were back at the hotel before they realised it. As it was dark and they had not found their contact they had little to do outside, and there wasn't anything social that was particularly appealing indoors. Naruto and Sasuke went to look around the hotel facilities and Sakura and Kakashi simply bid them goodnight before heading back to their rooms.

888

"Seems rather odd for this place to have a swimming pool don't you think? I mean, I understand the hot spring, it's natural so she might as well make something from it but-"

"Shut up dobe. Maybe this place is more popular in summer. Or maybe the woman just wanted a pool."

"Or maybe she was just showing off her crappy hotel."

"Maybe you're just being rude."

"Maybe Sakura's rubbing off on you."

"Shame you're too dense for that to happen."

Sasuke then felt a fist against his head.

"Your punches are still weak dropout."

"I passed!"

"Not via exam."

"I'm Jonin!" Sasuke raised his eyebrows. "I am! And promotion through kicking ass is much better than examination anyways! BeLIEVE IT!"

Sasuke gestured towards the pool.

"Wanna swim?"

"Wha-" Naruto flopped onto the floor and crossed his arms. "I didn't bring any trunks!" Sasuke smirked.

"Sudden modesty, little girl?"

Splash!

Naruto was already in the pool.

R&R Guys!