"So, you and Kakashi, huh?" Shikamaru asked her the following morning when he saw them holding hands during lunch break.

Sakura nodded, her smile bright and genuine. "Yeah, Shikamaru. It happened unexpectedly, but I'm happy."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, his usual lazy expression turning into a teasing smirk. "Well, well. Looks like the brooding Hokage finally got himself a girlfriend. Do you think if he got laid, he will stop being moody?"

"Shikamaru!" Sakura hissed. "What is with you and sexual jokes? Now you sound like Sai."

"Considering that Sai is married to my teammate, I think you'll understand why." Shikamaru answered her. "But Sakura if does come to that, make sure to make it worthwhile for him. I don't want to deal with a cranky Hokage just because you're a bad lay."

Sakura blushed furiously, mortified by Shikamaru's blunt remarks. "Shikamaru! That's none of your business!"

Shikamaru chuckled, thoroughly enjoying Sakura's embarrassment. "Just giving some friendly advice, Sakura. You two better not cause any trouble for the rest of us."

Sakura rolled her eyes, playfully swatting Shikamaru's arm. "We won't, Shikamaru. Our personal lives won't interfere with our professional duties."

But as soon as the words left her mouth, Kakashi's silver head just popped out of the door and gave her a puppy dog eyes. "Sakura, sweetheart, my tea?"

Sakura sighed, giving Kakashi an amused look. "I'll get your tea, Hokage-sama. Just give me a moment."

"Thank you, sweetheart." Kakashi thanked her before closing his office door again.

Shikamaru looked at her. "You were saying?"

"Shut up!" Sakura hissed before standing up to steep Kakashi's tea.

Shikamaru chuckled, watching Sakura with an amused expression. "Well, if he starts to call you 'sweetheart' all throughout the day, I'm going to resign. You better talk to him about endearments inside the tower."

"Shikamaru!"

Shikamaru chuckled, watching Sakura with an amused expression. "Well, it seems like you have your hands full with the moody Hokage. Good luck, Sakura."

Sakura shot him a playful glare as she walked away, carrying a tray with a cup of tea for Kakashi. As she entered Kakashi's office, she found him leaning back in his chair, reading his beloved Icha Icha Paradise.

"Here's your tea, Hokage-sama," Sakura said, placing the tray on his desk.

Kakashi looked up, a mischievous glint in his visible eye. "Thank you, sweetheart. You know just how I like it."

Sakura rolled her eyes, her face slightly flushed. "You're welcome, Hokage-sama. If there's anything else you need, just let me know."

Kakashi nodded, his gaze lingering on her. "Actually, there is one thing."

Sakura raised an eyebrow, curious. "What is it?"

Kakashi flashed his signature eye-smile. "A goodluck kiss, perhaps? I have a lot of meetings this afternoon."

Sakura blushed at Kakashi's playful suggestion, but her eyes held a spark of amusement. "Hokage-sama, I don't think that's within the scope of my professional duties."

Kakashi chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Well, it's worth a shot. But I'm getting that kiss after the office hours."

Sakura smiled at the man. "Sure. After office hours, when I'm no longer paid by the citizen's taxes I'll kiss you. But as long as we're clocked in, I'm afraid, it's a no."

"Okay, dinner later?" he asked.

"You bet." Sakura smiled before she left the office.