A/N: Thank you very much for those who left a review. Whew. I had quite forgotten how fun it was to interact and share a fandom with the community. I hope you all enjoy.

CHAPTER 4

Here Comes the Bride

"You're in a good mood today," Shizune observed, eyeing Kakashi with suspicion as he breezed through a mountain of paperwork, practically humming under his breath. Suspicion flickered in her gaze—it wasn't every day the Hokage seemed so... enthusiastic about administrative work.

"They must be at the Ichihama Paradise Inn now," Kakashi said with singsong voice. "Took some effort, but I finally snagged a reservation – it's almost impossible this time of year." He looked far too pleased with himself.

Shizune froze in the middle of organizing some files, her brow furrowing."Ichihama Paradise Inn?" She gave him a look of disbelief. "Isn't that…?"

"Ah, Shizune-san. How did you know?" Kakashi's one visible eye curved in an all-too-knowing expression.

The realization dawned on Shizune like a punch to the gut. "You didn't," she said flatly, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You didn't send them there on purpose."

"Maa, it's such a renowned establishment. Nothing but the best for Konoha's finest," Kakashi replied smoothly, clearly enjoying her horror.

"You are an idiot."

Kakashi's really was an idiot. Shizune found his current mood highly odd, especially considering the storm that had raged in the office earlier—Hyuuga clan elders in full-blown fury, their outrage practically shaking the walls.

"How dare you send Hinata on such a… scandalous mission?!" one of the elders snapped, his hands slamming onto Kakashi's desk for emphasis. His pale Byakugan eyes blazed with indignation. "To pose as a honeymooner? With an Uchiha, no less? This is an insult to the Hyuuga name!"

The second elder nodded, his voice a measured contrast to the first but no less sharp. "You risk not only her reputation but the entire clan's standing. Do you understand the consequences of such reckless behavior, Hokage?"

Kakashi leaned back in his chair, tilting his head slightly as though contemplating the ceiling. "Reckless?" he repeated, his voice calm, almost bored. "Hinata is one of Konoha's most capable kunoichi. If you think she's too delicate for this mission, you're severely underestimating her."

The third elder, a woman with silver-streaked hair and a glare that could cut steel, took a step forward. "This isn't about her capability. It's about the optics. You've set her up to be ridiculed! And you deliberately paired her with that Uchiha boy—the cause of all this destruction!"

Kakashi's visible eye curved into an amused arc. "Interesting. I thought you all were interested in ensuring that she stayed away, what with the Aya family marriage? Strange how you're suddenly so worried about her future."

The first elder stiffened, his mouth tightening. "That marriage alliance is for the benefit of the Hyuuga clan. It's none of your concern."

"Oh, but it is," Kakashi countered, sitting up straighter now. "The Byakugan is one of Konoha's greatest assets. Forgive me – you practically killed for this. Apologies if I find it troubling that you're so eager to ship it off to another village for political favors. If anything, this mission is ensuring her loyalty remains here."

A sharp intake of breath rippled through the room. The second elder narrowed his eyes. "You planned this," he said, his tone low and accusatory.

Kakashi shrugged, unbothered. "I'm Hokage. I plan a lot of things."

"You are meddling with clan matters, Hokage. Tread carefully," warned the lady elder. "If anything were to happen to Hinata on this mission –"

"She'll be fine," Kakashi interrupted smoothly. "After all, Sasuke is more than capable of protecting her. And who knows? They might even bond."

Hinata was certain she was going to faint. Sasuke's face was impossibly close to hers, even though his sharp gaze was trained at something above the bed. She was becoming more lightheaded with the scenario. She tried to figure out how they ended in this situation, but her embarrassment was getting in the way. So much for her resolve not to embarrass herself during this mission.

But here they were—on a ridiculously gaudy, heart-shaped bed, Sasuke pinning her on the said bed in a way that would send any observer's imagination spiraling.

"They're watching us."

Were they surrounded? They were on a mission after all. Sasuke turned his gaze towards her, softly saying, "Stay still."

Hinata nodded mutely, trying to ignore their position but now that he was looking at her, she felt a blush creep up to her ears. Despite their position, Sasuke was infuriatingly calm, his mind clearly only on the mission.

She took a short breath and activated her byakugan – only to deactivate it almost immediately. Just what kind of inn did the Hokage's office book for them? In the rooms on either side of theirs, couples were clearly engaged in… private activities. She pressed her hands into her eyes, trying to shake off the embarrassment.

Still, in that brief moment, she managed to spot a few peculiar electrical devices in their own room – small, foreign objects positioned suspiciously like hidden cameras. One was mounted directly above the bed.

'So that was what Sasuke was staring at,' Hinata realized, her mind catching up. Putting two and two together, she gently pushed him off her, her hands trembling slightly.

"What are you doing?" Sasuke muttered under his breath, his tone low and measured so as not to arouse suspicion. His dark eyes darted toward the walls and ceilings.

"Sasuke-san," Hinata began. "I… I think I understand now."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Understand what?"

Cheeks flushed, Hinata continued. "We're in a… love inn," she said, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "It's not a regular hotel. These kinds of places are—um—popular with couples who want... privacy." She cast a quick glance at the heart-shaped bed and the incriminating rose petals scattered around.

Sasuke frowned, his expression as stoic as ever. "And?"

"And," Hinata continued, her voice growing a little firmer, "we're not being watched by the syndicate per se. There are just cameras in the room which aren't necessarily being used by syndicate members or enemy shinobi. They're likely... for voyeurs." Her face burned at having to explain this, but Sasuke deserved to know. "People who run these places sometimes install cameras to… record things."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his face shadowed with thought. "Why would anyone do that?" he asked, genuinely perplexed. "What's the point?"

Hinata blinked, momentarily stunned by his naivety. Her embarrassment was briefly replaced by disbelief. "T-they do it to watch," she stammered, unsure how to elaborate further without completely dying of mortification.

Sasuke looked as though she'd just told him the sky was green. His brows furrowed deeper, clearly struggling to process the absurdity. "So you're saying… this entire inn is for—?" He cut himself off, as though the idea itself was too ridiculous to say out loud.

Hinata nodded timidly, looking down at her hands. "Yes."

For a moment, Sasuke just sat there, his stoic mask cracking ever so slightly as confusion and finally, irritation as realization dawned on him. "I'm going to kill Kakashi."

-End-