~Chapter 7: Second Chance Bet~
(Tuesday September 16 Konoha's Jōnin lounge)
~Nina~
Nina entered the darkened Jōnin lounge, observing Genma limping from the chair at the window to the lounge, and sighed. She quickly stepped in to cushion and guide his collapse into the three-seater lounge. "Do I need to speak with your girlfriend about easing up your bedroom antics?"
"No…no," he whimpered weakly.
Irrespective of her day off and the orders to steer clear of the clinic, Nina couldn't ignore a comrade's medical needs. She knelt in front of Genma, placing a hand on either side of his temple. Under the dim green light of her chakra, Nina observed the creases on his brow and around his eyes fade. She ran her hands over the rest of Genma's body, giving him an impromptu full medical assessment.
"Thanks for this," Genma said through a pained inhalation.
Untrained eyes wouldn't notice, but her chakra blipped for a split second as her mind wandered to the night before.
Last night…
Nina swiftly covered her falter by assisting Genma to reposition onto his back to work on his hip. "Eh, it's what friends are for."
I really should have thought about which direction I laid him down.
Genma's left hip was closest to the lounge's back, leaving her minimal space to work within. With one hand under his hip, she wedged her hand just under the waist of his pants to better manipulate the top portion of his pelvis. "Breathe in," she directed, forcing the joint out with her chakra.
"You actually sound like you care." Genma regarded her with a rascally grin, at which she reacted with a roll of her eyes.
He'd always given Nina hell whenever he could. Besides the short-lived romantic venture between them—more Genma than her—he'd come to fill the gaping hole in her life left by Asuma's departure for the Twelve Guardian Ninja. Shiranui was prone to egotism, and she was much too prideful. So, they hid this truth behind a sibling-esque pattern of sniping at each other.
It would be a damn shame if I didn't return the favour for last night, wouldn't it?
Without warning, Nina drove the wayward joint into its anatomically correct placement.
"Ow! Fuck! Sarutobi, that fucking hurt!" Genma lurched upright.
"Idiot. Did you think it wouldn't?" Nina snickered, washing her hands in the sink. Whilst she could have been a gentler realignment, he fucking deserved it.
"Imagine how much nicer you'd be if you'd relieved some of that built-up sexual frustration last night?"
Usually, Nina didn't allow grating comments to penetrate any farther than surface-level, but something about the sudden growing interest in her non-existent love life was fast edging under her skin.
She slapped her hands onto the bench, rattling the spoon in Genma's coffee mug. "For the love of the fucking Fourth!"
~Genma~
All too used to the kunoichi's flares, Genma didn't even flinch. He took up his usual spot by the window, reversing the chair before sitting. "Alright, Sarutobi, I'll stop teasing."
Nina faintly scoffed. "You're only stopping because you're afraid of Hana."
What is scarier than one kunoichi? Two hot-headed kunoichis.
Genma grinned and winked at Nina. He'd staggered from Hanako's to the Jōnin lounge, hoping he could have one of the medics treat him. Anyone but Little Sarutobi. For all his want to avoid her today, it had to be said that she was the most capable medic aside from Lady Fifth. Nina did what needed to be done and never pulled a punch.
Heh. Though, at times, I wish she would.
As always, Genma was grateful for Nina's medical attention. He also knew he wasn't whom she'd be searching for and figured he'd help her out. "I haven't seen Hatake. Try training grounds three; it's a—"
"—a favourite of his. I know," Nina clipped in.
Apprehensive of her intentions as she approached him, Genma clamped both hands down over his head, protecting himself from the chance of her ruffling his head again. Nina swept in and skulled down his fresh cup of coffee.
"Oi, you little thief," Genma grouched.
"Consider it payment for the medical, Shiranui," she sassed, disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
(Konoha's Cenotaph)
~Nina~
When Nina's search of training grounds three wound up fruitless, she moved on to her third guess: Konoha's cenotaph. Had she wanted, she could have approached Kakashi undetected. Instead, she made no effort to hide her chakra nor avoided stepping on twigs and leaves that cracked and crackled underfoot. "Brooding again, Hatake?"
"Hmm." Kakashi's eye slid closed as he took in and released a measured breath.
The only time he allowed his mask to slip was the short moments of carelessness; those around him barely noticed. Being in such close quarters over the years, Nina caught it from time to time. However, here in the company of the fallen, the unimaginable pain Kakashi carried within him was all but tangible.
He cleared his throat—and the lull. "Mission?" he asked, tapping his right toes to the ground.
"We've been summoned by Lady Tsunade for a meeting tomorrow." Nina walked around the other side of the cenotaph and crouched down, brushing her fingers over the marbled stone, following the grooves of the five names freshly etched. "For their sakes, I hope it's not a mission."
~Kakashi~
Kakashi watched the way Nina's shoulders deflated, undoubtedly weighed down by guilt. He could see that she was fighting, her mind working hard to contain it.
A few minutes passed, and Nina slapped her hands on her thighs, pushing up to her feet. She returned to the side of the monument. The tight line of her lips eased into a hint of a smile. "So, have you finished it yet?"
"Uh…um." Kakashi took a second to pick up what she was referring to. "No."
He'd tried to; however, after failing half a dozen times to read more than a few words of the latest instalment of Icha Icha, he'd given up. He'd been left wide awake following the celebrations, which had wrapped up a couple of hours prior. So, he went there, to them. Like he did every day and whenever a restlessness struck.
Kakashi remained shoulder to shoulder but faced opposing directions with Nina. "Did Lady Tsunade say a time?"
"Bit redundant for you to ask that, don't you think?" she quipped, snuffing her nose. "Sometime before noon, swing by the clinic, Hatake."
He acknowledged her request with a nod.
(Wednesday September 17 Konoha's Medical Clinic)
~Nina~
The next day, Nina was back in the clinic. With the waiting room bursting at its seams by quarter-past-nine, she started her shift forty-five minutes earlier than rostered. When Sakura arrived at nine-thirty, Nina put her to work immediately. The young medic-nin's progress was such that she could be entrusted with tasks other than cleaning treatment rooms.
Nina looked over the two files handed to her by Ayame. "You can take Mr Toko to room three, Sakura. I'll be in after I see Miss Sina in room five. Okay?"
Sakura accepted the file from Nina, "Yes, Ma'am."
Miss Sina's symptoms were that of a classic cold. Nina clicked her pen and started taking notes as her patient listed them. "Well,"—she placed the stethoscope onto the small desk—"your chest sounds all clear, Miss Sina, which is a good sign. Please drink lots of water and get some rest. The cold should subside in the next day or two." She continued speaking as she guided the elderly lady to the reception desk. "Come back if your symptoms get any worse."
Nina quickly scribbled her signature on the bottom of her evaluation, accepting the many thanks from Miss Sina. While the woman was seemingly unaware of the mutterings from the other patients about the increasing wait times, Nina was not. "Ayame, please send the next patient into room five after Mitate finishes cleaning."
Upon entering room three, Nina pushed down on the hand wash pump a couple of times. She used the mirror to discreetly assess Sakura's treatment thus far while washing her hands under the running tap.
"I have removed the old dressing and cleaned up the area. Although the cut was minor in size, it was quite deep," Sakura explained.
The young medic had a newfound air of confidence about her, which Nina seldom witnessed when she first graced the clinic. Even before then, the pinkette was one-tracked-minded when it came to Sasuke Uchiha.
Nina ran her thumb across Mr Toko's blemish-free kneecap.
Impressive.
"Job well done, Sakura. You can take Mr Toko to the reception desk and move on to the next patient," Nina said, handing over the patient's file.
The young medic-nin's cheeks flared a similar shade of pink to her hair. Nina didn't utter compliments frequently—a hard-lined teaching method instilled in her during her apprenticing years under Tsunade's mentorship. Sakura had earned the acknowledgment, and Nina was finally content to write a Letter of Recommendation.
It's almost lunch. Where the fuck is Hatake?
Disregarding the patients still waiting to be seen, she figured the tardy Jōnin would be along soon enough, so she sat to pen the letter.
~Kakashi~
Following Sakura's directions, Kakashi ambled down the clinic's hallway towards the third treatment room. "Is now a bad time?"
Nina's eyes flicked around to the clock on the wall and back to what she was writing. "No, Hatake. Perfect timing for a change."
He'd made it with five minutes to spare before noon.
Without meaning to, Kakashi spied a few of her scribed words. He'd been right to steer the sole kunoichi of his squad towards Tsunade. Initially, his choice to do so was met with a lot of disapproval from the other Jōnin teachers, including Tsunade. Kakashi was accused of laziness, avoidance, and not coping with losing his supposed favourite student, Sasuke. Of course, all of that was far from the truth. For Sakura Haruno to progress as a shinobi, she needed a type of tutelage he couldn't provide. In the end, it all turned out okay; Sakura was finally coming into her own.
~Nina~
"Alright, let's go," Nina announced, folding the letter in half and ushering Kakashi along. Passing Sakura on their way, Nina placed a hand on her shoulder. "You and Mitate keep working your way through the patients."
Impromptu meetings were commonplace in the clinic. The staff—including the receptionists—were well versed in Nina's sudden call-aways, with Shizune often filling in her absence.
"Ayame, I need to go see Lady Fifth. I shouldn't be too long," said Nina. Ayame was fixated on Kakashi, showing no signs that she'd heard her. With it being two minutes from midday, there was no time to waste on disciplining the girl for her doe-eyed daze.
(Konoha's Hokage's Office)
~Tsunade~
Admittedly, Tsunade expected a much later appearance from the pair. She took a seat at her desk and motioned for Shizune to leave.
"Nina. Kakashi. I'll cut to the chase. I'm assigning you both a mission." Tsunade held out the mission scroll, which Nina accepted and exchanged with the folded paper she was holding. "I cannot stress enough the importance of abiding by the mission's requirements outlined to the best of your abilities. Any doubt about the authenticity of your relationship from the locals could be disastrous, not to mention costly, considering how much Amegakure's willing to pay for this mission."
"You wish us to pose as a couple, Milady?" Nina asked, her eyes frantically racing over the scroll's contents.
This meeting was going about as well as Tsunade anticipated. Be that as it may, a part of being a shinobi was accepting that there was no choice regarding missions. You were assigned a mission, and you had to go.
"Yes," Tsunade responded, jumping in before Nina raised more questions. "Nina, please finish your shift. I'll send Hatake to collect you soon to work out the finer details of this mission. You leave tomorrow."
~Kakashi~
Once Nina let go over her end of the scroll, Kakashi furled it back up, sliding it into one of the pockets on the front of his flak jacket.
I may as well get comfortable.
He sat in one of the chairs opposite Tsunade and crossed his legs. He'd been given many side-talks for missions that had involved Naruto. However, this was a first for one with Nina. Well, with that one exception back in ANBU.
As soon as the door clicked closed, Tsunade sighed and crossed her arms flat across the desk. "Now, Hatake, I'll make this short. There's no question Nina will do whatever is necessary for all intent purposes of a mission."
The undertones weren't lost on him. He'd never cared to inquire but had heard that a kunoichi—not all—underwent specialised training to handle certain missions. It was one of the less desirable aspects of being both a skilled and an attractive kunoichi. From the brief glimpse of their latest mission, Kakashi hadn't seen a reason to believe Sarutobi's skills in that particular area would be needed.
So, why the concern from Tsunade?
"For all her talents, she is rather hopeless regarding relationships. Unhelped, given I now know she also reads Jiraiya's glamorised smut."
Kakashi locked eyes with Konoha's Fifth Hokage. "This isn't just a mission for the village's financial gain, is it?"
"No. Please look after her, Kakashi."
He stood, turning his back to Tsunade. He wasn't entirely comfortable with what was being asked of him. Leaving aside the informality of the request, it was no less poignant than what was spelled out in ink on the scroll in his pocket. The last asking for him to play caretaker of Nina hadn't ended well for the requester.
What is that old saying? Play with fire and expect to be—
"Oh, and Hatake?"
"Hmm?" Kakashi looked back over his right shoulder at Tsunade.
"Break her heart, and I will break you."
"Ah," he nodded, stuffing one hand in his pants pocket and using the other to open the door. "Consider your request and warning, heard loud and clear."
~Tsunade~
Tsunade lazed her cheek against her hand. There was every possibility she'd just tempted fate by the roundabout request for Hatake to look after Nina. She waved the dubious thoughts away and unfolded the paper her subordinate had handed her earlier.
This is perfect.
She'd planned to promote Sakura for some time but had been waiting for Nina's recommendation to make it official. With that being taken care of, Sakura could assist Shizune in Nina's absence, easing the strain on the roster.
(Konoha's Medical Clinic)
~Nina~
Nina tore down the corridors of the Hokage Tower en route back to the clinic, her mind cartwheeling.
A mission. A fucking mission?
She passed Hanako on her way and grappled her by the wrist. Nina sat at the small desk and began working through the patient files that Sakura had only added to this morning. Fury-fuelled she fossicked around the desk, searching for a pen. "I swear to god."
"Umm, hello to you too, Sunshine," Hanako cracked.
"Sorry, Hana. I just..." Nina trailed off, staring blankly at the open file in front of her. "Ugh. Being assigned a mission isn't ideal right now."
"Maybe some time away is the best thing for you," Hanako said, plucking the pen out of Nina's grip. "You can come back with fresh eyes."
Her friend's rationale left no room for argument. It wasn't a challenging mission. A risky one, sure, but she was partnered with Hatake.
Therein lies the problem.
It wasn't that she didn't like him or that they didn't work well together.
"I know that expression. What's the problem?" Hanako asked.
"Nothing," Nina bit back. She could feel that Hanako's eyes were still firmly set on her, almost burning a hole in her head. Nina tapped her thumb onto the desk, weighing up the consequences of what her mind told her to do.
As long as I don't divulge the specific details of the mission, then I'm not breaking protocol.
"The mission is with Hatake," Nina said, sidling around to face Hanako.
"At the risk of sounding dumb, what is the problem with that?" Hanako asked, tilting her head to one side.
"There isn't; he is. Well, sort of," Nina huffed; her frustration refuelled her simmered anger. "Hatake and I have to date." She made quotation marks with her middle and index fingers on both hands.
~Hanako~
Hanako willed herself to rally whatever self-control she had to prevent herself from hysterically bursting out. Nina needed support.
My friend needs reassurance.
Hanako repeated those words in her head several times, changing which words she emphasised.
My friend needs reassurance.
My friend needs reassurance.
My friend needs reassurance.
"Okay. Shouldn't you be, I don't know, happy?" All that question did was elicit another incomprehensible grumble from Nina. "Do you know how many women would kill to date Kakashi-Sensei? Yet, here you are, pouting like a four-year-old."
"I'm not pouting," Nina snapped, snatching her pen back. "Lady Tsunade has explicitly stated that we must be convincing, and I just don't know if that's possible."
So, that's her real issue?
Hanako didn't always understand Tsunade's choices, and the chosen pairing for this mission wasn't an exception. However, she knew there would be reasonable grounds behind sending two of Konoha's elite on a mission together. She also fancied a second attempt after their failure at Shushu-ya two nights ago.
If only Nina would lower those damnable walls of hers.
"You're so stubborn," Hanako huffed, sitting on the edge of the desk and crossing her arms across her chest.
"You're one to talk. Have you told Lady Tsunade about you and Shiranui?" Nina quizzed.
"No. And why should we? It's not like it's official."
"Does Shiranui know that?" Nina asked, arching one eyebrow.
She was happy with Genma. Content. Safe. While she dared not say it aloud, she was loved. Hanako didn't need more than that, and the longer she could keep what she had from the scrutiny of Konoha's Council, the better. But Nina did raise a valid question.
What does Genma think?
Hanako hadn't thought to ask him, and the realisation she hadn't even bothered to ask him caused an uncomfortable knot of guilt to wind within her stomach and heart. Somehow, she kind of felt that Genma would be the one to attempt to broach the subject sooner or later, but she'd done her best to dodge that conversation. Just like Nina was doing now regarding her upcoming mission.
Hanako leaned over Nina's left shoulder, putting them cheek to cheek. "Do you want to hear my suggestion for your mission?"
"Sure," replied Nina sarcastically.
"Why don't you just let things just…unfold with Kakashi-Sensei? You may be pleasantly surprised."
~Kakashi~
Kakashi noted Ayame's uncomfortable state as he approached the clinic's reception. He was sure she'd happily hide under the desk if she could, but given that wasn't an option, she pretended to busy herself alternating between the computer and files.
"Kakashi, I-I-I'm sorry about after your party. I know you said you'd be back and that we had plans. And then, well, I-I. I didn't mean to. We didn't. It just…happened," Ayame stammered.
"No need to apologise." They were equally to blame for the night's ending, and he figured it only fair to offer her a second chance. "Maybe another time?"
"Well, uh, that's the thing," Ayame's eyes dropped to her lap, "you see, Guy and I—"
A high-pitched squeal, followed by a rattling crash, sounded from one of the treatment rooms, bringing their conversation to an early end. "I wish you and Guy the best," Kakashi said, smiling at her.
Ayame smiled meekly, adding, "Treatment room four."
Jiraiya would be delighted in the scene before Kakashi—two kunoichis on the ground with limbs intertwined.
"Get off me, Sarutobi!" Hanako pleaded from the flat of her back, embattling against Nina's inhuman strength. "You're going to suffocate me with your boobs!"
Internally agreeing with Hana's claim, Kakashi quickly averted his attention elsewhere for personal preservation. He broke up their tussle by clearing his throat.
~Nina~
"Hata—, oomph." Nina's hand slipped as she scrambled to pull herself up using the edge of the desk. "Sorry, we didn't see you there."
"So it would seem." Kakashi pulled out his book.
There he goes again.
Most men would've been racing to plug their nosebleeds. Hatake's neutralism gave nothing of the sort away. On the other hand, Hana was an open book. Her sweet smile and darting eyes between Nina and Hatake left nothing to the imagination. Nina threw her friend a murderous glance, who took the hint and left, but not without a final smirk.
Nina reassembled the chair and began restacking the spilled files from launching herself at the tiny Uchiha. Tidying up this mess only served to extend her shift. "I should be finished here within the hour."
"Okay. See you at Ichiraku at two o'clock," said Kakashi.
A nod in response was all it took, and the Copy-nin was gone.
(Konoha's Jōnin lounge)
~Genma~
Genma, Kurenai, Asuma, and Guy again discussed the Copy-Nin and Little Sarutobi.
Genma flipped his senbon to the right side of his mouth, taking up his usual window-side seat. "I really thought we were shit out of luck after the other night. But Hana just told me about their mission requirements."
"I think we are best keeping well clear of this," Asuma warned, taking Kurenai's hand in his own.
"Don't pull the whole big brother card on us now," whined Genma, rocking back on his chair to lock it under the bottom of the window sill.
Asuma didn't appear to appreciate the low-ball dig, choosing to take a moment to settle his temper. "If either of them gets an inkling that we have our own agenda, it'll all crumble, and we'll be raked into the Hokage's office faster than the Yellow Flash."
Genma banged on the window-side table with immense enthusiasm. "I don't care what you all think; this is so worth betting on! I say we make it fifty-thousand Ryo buy-in." Looking around at his friends, no one else seemed to share the same view. "Seriously, you're—"
Genma pushed forward so all four chair legs were on the ground. Like everyone else, his eyes were on the silver-haired man leaning against the wall inside the doorway. However, unlike everyone else, he didn't delay pulling the Copy-Nin into the conversation. "We're discussing your chances of hooking up with Little Sarutobi on your next mission."
"Forget it," Asuma lashed back, holding a glass under the running tap.
"Well, call me crazy, but I'd like my friends to be happy," Genma added, lazing the chair against the window sill again. "Asuma is just sour because it's his little sister."
~Kakashi~
Kakashi clapped his book shut. Apparently, Nina had let it slip to Hana about their mission requirements. What he would have given to have been a fly on the wall of that room. He was curious about what was said for them to end up scuffling on the floor.
Hmm.
"You don't think it's possible?" Kakashi asked. Asuma was the first to shoot him an inflamed stare. Kakashi simply shrugged. "You were ever so encouraging the other night. Going as far as to have Guy rig it so that she won."
~Asuma~
Asuma snuffed his nose and craned his neck back, resting it on the lounge's back.
So, he'd seen that?
But that was an important point too; Nina hadn't. Probably thanks to her alcohol consumption. Meddling a second time in her affairs wasn't a smart play. "A gimmick kiss and sex are completely different things."
"Think of the things you could buy for your bundle-to-be, Asuma," joked Genma, getting up to toss a catalogue containing baby furniture on the coffee table.
How does Hana put up with his crap?
From a side-eye look, Asuma locked eyes with Kakashi for a second and then exhaled. "You'll have your work cut out for you, Kakashi."
~Genma~
Genma clenched the senbon between his teeth as his grin grew even bigger.
I knew I could get him to break.
"So, is that a yes or no from the big brother?"
"It's a no. No offence, Kakashi," replied Asuma coolly.
Kakashi uncrossed one arm, waving his hand to indicate he'd taken none.
"A no from me too," Kurenai seconded.
Unquestionably spurred on by the opportunity of a challenge that involved his self-proclaimed rival, Guy took a stand. "I don't believe the Great Kakashi of the Sharingan can triumph where I, Konoha's Blue Beast, has failed."
Genma pulled the senbon out of his mouth. "Ah, fuck you all. I have every faith he can pull it off." He quickly came to his feet, causing the table to wobble. "But whatever you fucking do, Hana cannot find out about this, please."
Asuma scratched the back of his head, giving a light chuckle. "I think that's a given when it comes to Hana, and because you said please."
Everyone nodded in agreeance and swore to secrecy about their bet.
~Kurenai~
Kurenai waited until she and Asuma were alone in the lounge. "You don't have a problem with that at all?"
He flicked through the catalogue Genma had tossed earlier, appearing calmer than before. She was still trying to determine what part of the conversation triggered Asuma's change of heart.
Folding over the catalogue's last page, Asuma slung his arm around her, pulling her against his broad chest. "Kakashi Hatake is capable of many things, Kurenai. Hurting my little sister is not his nature. Even if it means losing to Guy."
Kurenai searched Asuma's face for further reassurance.
"Ah, don't worry your pretty little head about it." He dipped his head to kiss her forehead. "Let's just say it's a brother's intuition."
~End of Chapter~
