They travelled swiftly; silently following Sasuke's lead through the treetops, with light sprinklings of snow shaking the branches and gliding to the ground with each step. After Sakura had changed into more appropriate mission attire, she sent a missive back to Tsunade via slug summons explaining the turn of events, and then they departed. But not without Kakashi-sensei getting a written verbal lashing from Tsunade in response of his 'absolutely idiotic plan. This was not part of the deal, Hatake! You owe me big time kid.'

They had kept their pace for nine hours straight, on the vague intel that the mission was in some way time sensitive. Sasuke's ambiguous answers were only proving to provoke further questions and disgruntlements. Sakura could practically feel the tension between Sasuke and Kakashi – a rather odd phenomenon in their usual team dynamics. She was sure that if it wasn't for Naruto's contagious enthusiasm, it would've been a highly painful nine-hour trip.

Sakura inwardly sighed. At the very least, she could use the time to sort out her own theories. The best she settled on was that her medical skills were likely the reason for her presence, and she could live with that. Her feelings on the matter of her company, and the nature of how she got here however, were another thing entirely. But if she was going to get through this, she needed to keep things compartmentalised, at least until they got home. Then she could explode. For now, professionalism was going to be her safe word.

Sakura snapped to attention when she saw Sasuke halt up ahead. Signally for them to stop and regroup, they descended to the forest floor.

"Making camp here tonight then?" Naruto pepped, already flopping to sit down against the base of a tree.

"No." Sasuke replied curtly. "There is a town a little further, we will stay there."

Kakashi arched his brows. "That spot is popular among the more unsavoury shinobi as a stop off point. We are far too conspicuous a group to not draw attention. Especially given that each of our reputations now precede us. I thought you were intent on avoiding unnecessary exposure."

"It is necessary."

Witnessing the spark of conflict alight between the two males, Sakura intervened. "It's fine Kakashi, we are all capable of blending in."

"Blending in isn't the exact goal." Sasuke corrected cryptically.

"What do you mean, teme?" Naruto perked coming to stand by Sasuke. "You planning something?"

"Well I hadn't planned on the two of you," Sasuke gestured with his chin to Kakashi and Naruto, "We are far too recognisable as a four-man cell. Our party will invite the wrong questions."

"That's an easy fix. We can each use a henge, it'll be fine. We can split into teams of two to make it easier." Sakura offered.

"Oh oh! I got something even better than a henge!" Naruto cried with a surge of enthusiasm. "If we're so worried about our team image, then why not even out the ratio a little."

Kakashi caught on first, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Naruto – "

"Sexy no Jutsu!"

Before any of them could blink, Naruto had transformed into a tan, slender, petit blonde with electric blue eyes, and a ridiculously disproportionate chest.

Kakashi groaned, Sasuke's stoic façade cracked, and Sakura let a small, scheming smile spread across her lips. If it was truly a Team Seven reunion, then some fun might be in order. And perhaps a little payback. Professionalism could wait until Captain Sasuke actually let them in on their mission.

"That's actually not a bad idea Naruto." She praised, gaining shocked looks from two out of her three teammates. "People won't question two couples getting a few rooms, rather than an unidentifiable foursome. And besides, if Sasuke is needing to attract some level of attention, then I'm sure a blonde bombshell will do the trick!" The gleam in Sakura's eye spoke of pure mischief.

"Sakura-chan." Naruto breathed, a look of awe and affection gracing his feminine features.

Kakashi couldn't believe his ears. "I'm not sure this is – "

"Oh, come on sensei! Do you have a better idea?" Naruto whined. Sakura turned her gem eyes on him and looked at him expectantly.

Several in fact, Kakashi thought dryly to himself, but nevertheless closed his mouth in defeat. It wasn't his mission to lead, so he felt no guilt in leaving the wrangling of Naruto up to Sasuke. And if he felt a twinge of gratification at that, well, who could blame him?

Suddenly all eyes focused onto the raven-haired member of the group. Sakura had to fight a giggle as she saw the vain popping from his temple, as though fighting between extending the idiotic conversation or accepting it, just to be rid of an inevitably whinny Naruto.

"Whatever." He ground out. "Everyone else, form a henge."

At that Naruto leapt into the air and flashed his trademark grin. Catching Sakura's eyes, he gave her a cheeky wink.

"So, I guess the question is, who goes with who?" Naruto whispered cheekily beside her.

"Hmm, I guess that depends on who you want to torment more." She giggled quietly.

They exchanged a knowing look and nodded, Naruto biting his lip in impish anticipation. "Guess tonight I'll be Mrs. Uchiha Sasuke." Naruto couldn't wipe the grin off his face, he was going to make Sasuke's night hell!

By the time they made it to town, the sun was a distant memory, and a persistent breeze was making its way to their bones. Sakura was all too thankful for her precise chakra control to subtly circulate through her body and emulate some heat against the chill. The streets were generally quiet, with only a few huddled figures peppering across their line of sight to disappear into illuminated houses or bars. She'd never been to this town, but the dilapidated state of it made her heart sink a little. Maybe she could come back and do an assessment of their medical capabilities and organise some form of seasonal check-ups among the citizens, or help establish a clinic?

At a particularly violent gust of wind, Sakura subconsciously huddled closer to the figure to her right, and was met by a steady arm wrapping itself around her shoulders to pull her closer. She looked up at the tall figure. Light brown hair, a singular brown eye, an eyepatch and a green scarf which sat exceedingly high over his face. The eye crinkle he gave her made her heart flutter with familiarity. How was he always so warm?

"Geez teme, why won't you hold me like that?" Sakura heard Naruto's girlish voice tease to her left.

"Touch me and you die."

Glancing over, she could see Naruto's feminine figure attempting to brush up against a seething Sasuke. He had looked so betrayed when she let Naruto partner up with him, and she with Kakashi. That bewildered, pleading look on Sasuke's face alone was almost enough to make up for him genjutsuing her again. She'd still punch him for it later though. Sasuke was the only one of them to keep from wearing a henge, likely for the purpose of whatever reason they were staying in this town. The whole image was thoroughly entertaining to behold and she let out a little snicker at their hushed bickering.

"Something funny, darling?" she heard the sweet lilt of Kakashi bring her back. At his words she felt heat rise to her cheeks and glanced up to his chocolate stare.

"Nothing, h-honey." The words slipped out awkwardly, and she kicked herself for how flustered she sounded. It was just Kakashi for Kami sake. They'd teased each other with far worse than silly pet names before. Professional. She reminded herself.

Kakashi simply smiled in reply. Bringing a hand up to her head, he lightly brushed his fingertips across her forehead, swiping a black tendril of hair away and sending another wave of heat jolting through her at his intimate gesture. She remained immobile as he leaned closer, his masked lips softly brushing her hairline.

"Careful, your seal is showing." He whispered against the top of her head.

Swallowing hard at the comment, she lifted her eyes to meet his and nodded slowly in thanks, grazing her fingers over her forehead, only to realise she had already covered it in her henge. That sneaky -! My control is flawless, cha!

The dirty look she shot Kakashi made him chuckle lightly at her.

"You're too easy to tease, sweetheart."

This time Sakura was sure her pink cheeks and heated face was in annoyance. She scrunched her nose and let out a huff. Stupid Kakashi. Stupid pet-names. He was the tease! Pro-fes-sion-al! Before she could berate herself further she felt Sasuke shift to a stop in front of a large, rundown establishment.

"This is it."

Sakura eyed the building warily. It certainly looked rough, and downright seedy if she was being honest; not really somewhere she could image anyone going out of their way to stay in. And Sasuke had willingly brought them here? Or was at least planning on bringing her here? To what? Meet with someone? Be seen by someone? Her mind was filling with questions faster than she could process them.

"Let me handle the talking."

Sasuke's words came out like a warning, and Sakura felt Kakashi sigh beside her. She assumed they were thinking along the same lines at the thought of Sasuke being the social forefront of the group. She could almost laugh. But she wouldn't, she was far too curious. And professional.

The inside of the building was just as downtrodden as the outside, but at least it was warm. The immediate area seemed to serve as a bar and was crowded with people with varying foreboding demeanours. Sakura fought the urge to reach out with her chakra to assess any potential threats, reminding herself of her role as love-struck civilian couple. She hoped this plan would work. Not that they knew what they were supposed to be achieving. Irritation flickered briefly at the back of her mind. Sasuke could at least throw them a bone so they weren't so blatantly unprepared! The type A in her was practically screaming, but she pushed it down to deal with another time. Preferably around the same time she'd be giving Sasuke his well-deserved pounding.

"I want a room." Sasuke clipped to the man behind the bar.

The middle-aged man seemed unperturbed by Sasuke's rude greeting and grunted. "Name?"

"Uchiha."

There was a brief pause and the man cocked his head slightly, exposing a detailed tattoo of a snake etched on his neck. Sakura felt Kakashi twitch in intrigue beside her. Not only was Sasuke maintaining his appearance, but willingly giving out his identity. Things appeared to be more complicated than it seemed.

"Of course." He spoke in a gruff tone, before shifting his attention to the rest of them. "And they are?"

Before Sasuke could respond, Naruto launched himself over Sasuke and giggled profusely before loudly claiming. "I'm Mrs. Uchiha! Newlywed!"

Sasuke stiffened visibly, and Sakura and Kakashi felt his killing intent spike momentarily before he suffocated it with mighty restraint.

The man eyed Sasuke then flickered his attention to Naruto with strained politeness, "Congratulations." The man's attention drifted warily towards Sakura and Kakashi.

Naruto giggled, "Oh thank you!" then grabbed Sakura's wrist her swung her into his embrace. "And this is Mei! My best friend, we ran into her on our travels. She recently got engaged to that handsome man there!" He flicked a delicate wrist to a casual Kakashi. "We were hoping to celebrate tonight, and maybe stay the night here, if you have two rooms that are close?" Naruto pouted his lips and bat his lashes suggestively.

Sakura had to keep from gasping at his unexpected takeover of the situation and put a sweet smile across her face as the rough man looked between the two of them, then back at their respective 'partners'.

"I might have something. For the happy couples." His tone did not match his words.

Naruto gave a squeaky giggle and squeezed Sakura tighter. "Oh, thank you! You are so kind." With a flurry of sweetness and sway of hips, Naruto took the offered room keys and skipped his way towards their accommodation, leaving Kakashi to smile gratefully at the man, and nudge Sasuke from the prying eyes of the interested patrons.

Kakashi had to smirk at the Uchiha who was seemingly frozen with fury. Trust Naruto not to follow orders. But seeing as the orders were coming from Sasuke, Kakashi couldn't really blame him.

"Naruto!" Sakura whispered as she was dragged up the old wooden stairs, "What were you thinking?"

"What? I was just being the blonde bombshell Sasuke needed." He replied innocently as they came to a stop in front of their rooms.

Sakura rolled her eyes and playfully punched him in the arm. "You're having too much fun with this."

"Nobody said I couldn't."

"Well, that was quite the display." Kakashi commented dryly as he approached with Sasuke in tow.

Naruto flashed a grin as Sasuke stalked up to him and violently snatched a key, "Idiot! What did I just say about letting me do the talking?" Sasuke growled.

"What talking? You two were basically grunting at each other." Naruto grinned.

Naruto watched in muted awe as Sasuke appeared to school his expression from seething hatred, into resigned annoyance; his dark eyes flashing red for the briefest of moments. "Don't do that again."

Naruto only snorted. Like he'd ever make a promise like that!

Abruptly, Sasuke turned to face Sakura. They held each other's eyes for a moment, before Sasuke grabbed her upper arm and pulled her towards the room closest to him.

"Hey! Wha – "

Before she could further protest, Sakura felt another arm hook around her and halt the movement.

"Now, now Sasuke, don't you know it's rude to steal other people's fiancé's?" Kakashi drawled casually, eyeing the Uchiha.

Sasuke met his playful tone with a firm snarl, "She'll stay with me. You can have the idiot."

Kakashi cocked his head and crinkled his eye. "I'm sorry but I'm afraid you have proven to have a track record of stealing what's not yours."

Sakura felt their grips tighten around her arms as an irritating sense of déjà vu washed over her. She could feel the heat coming from both sides of her, and with a loud huff she yanked her arms free of the opposing males and pushed them back with lightly chakra infused forearms.

"Enough! You two clearly need to sort out this game you're playing with each other. And I refuse to be part of it. Sasuke get used to us being here, and Kakashi, you're supposed to be the mature one here!" Her voice rose between them with assertive presence. "Figure this out. I'm staying with Naruto."

With that she marched towards the blonde in question, hooked an arm around his waist and dragged him into the opposite room before slamming the door for good measure.

Kakashi snuck a glance at Sasuke who seemed yet again immobilised with disbelief at his teammates' actions. Rolling his eye, Kakashi let out a long slow exhale. Well, if I can't keep an eye on one, I'll be damn sure to keep an eye on the other.

"I'll be back later." Kakashi waved lamely and strolled back out through the empty hallway.

"Hn."

With an increasingly defeated sigh, Sasuke unlocked his room and considered the previously transpired hours. Everything was so far going to plan. More or less.

A/N: Ah sorry! I know I didn't get around to sussing out Sasuke's mission in this chapter (it would've been too longer otherwise). But alas, that is why I posted two chapters in one go! Hopefully this makes up for it a little. As always, thanks for reading this far anyway!