Skirmishes

So this chapter goes back to the present now everyone. That was basically how Sakura got into Anbu. I'll give some more insight on what happened in those four months, but that's in due time. Well…

Read && Enjoy!

"Kakashi," She whispered. She saw his head slowly turn to face her.

"Hm?" He opened his eye slowly.

"My body has just about flushed out what they gave me to stop my chakra flow. How about you?"

"I can open my eyes and string sentences together, so yeah. I think the drug is wearing off." He started searching the dark and moldy room, but unluckily, there were no windows so he couldn't possibly estimate what time it is.

"Hold on, I think I can…get out of these…chains…There!" She broke free from the chains by burning them with her chakra. She started to massage her bruised wrists then she set on trying to flush the drug from his body. She also started to look around the room to find anything that could get them out of there. When she felt the immune system start working on the drug, she spotted her overcoat in a corner. After she broke his chains, she tiptoed to where she located her coat and started to put one arm through when she looked up and saw Kakashi.

"Really. Are you really going to put that on?" He stated with a look that said 'Are you serious?'

"Yes…why not? It's cold down here." She slipped her other arm through the coat.

"Yes, yes. It is pretty chilly down here, Sakura." When her gaze turned to him again he was sitting cross-legged on the cold floor with his fingers interlaced. Then she remembered. He didn't…have any…clothes…

"Oh! Sorry!" A blush was evident on her cheeks as she quickly took off the coat and tossed it to him as he got up. She turned around.

"What? Tired of checking me out?" She swung back around and saw her coat was knotted at his side covering both his penis and rear end. When her eyes started to trail up, she stopped at his neck and noticed it was…bare. She let her eyes go the rest of the way and they widened. He was smiling. And he had dimples.

"So you're telling me, for the time that we've been stuck in this, hole, you've neglected to take one peek at my face." He smirked.

"N-no, no. I saw your face, but I-I guess I saw t-the mask on…" She trailed off. She took the remaining steps to his person and stopped when they were inches apart. In all her years, she never thought that all she had to do was get locked up with him while in enemy territory and she would get to see his face. Her hand found its way to check, then moving upwards to trail the scar on his left eye.

"Sakura, what are you doing?" She started to poke and prod the place where his dimples were imprinted. She caught his lip before it closed and started to check his teeth and gums; perfectly white. Her hand patted and felt his forehead and ran through his scalp, possibly searching for bumps, scales, any kind of imperfection.

"If I have to see your face holed up in enemy territory, I might as well go the whole nine yards." He rolled his one eye. It was so nice to see his whole face betray the emotion he felt. She felt like clapping her hands and giggling like a schoolgirl. She, Haruno Sakura, has unraveled the great mystery known to be Hatake Kakashi. She. Felt. Great.

He gently removed her hands from searching his scalp and dropped them. He started feeling the walls for anything that could get them to the other side. When that proved hopeless, he bit his thumbs and summoned his ninken. When Pakkun appeared he got straight to business.

"I need you to get to Lady Hokage. Tell her it's urgent and we need her in Kusagakure right away."

"Hai—" He was cut off. Something squeaked and they both heard loud footsteps.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Kakashi shot up from his knelt position.

"Pakkun go! Sakura, do it now!" He saw Sakura expertly move her hands through 64 hand seals with lightning speed while he waited.

"Whisper of a Goddess." She said softly. From her mouth blew cherry blossoms and a pink fog. It surrounded the Grass Nin before his eyes went unfocused and his body frozen.

"He's under, Kakashi." Kakashi then made his 3 hand seals and lightning shot from his hand in blade form. In their four months, Sakura managed to create two jutsu. One of them was a collaboration with Kakashi's lightning blade. The second was basically for one-on-one combat.

"Raikiri!" He ran towards the frozen Grass Nin while slicing his neck. Then he extinguished his lightning blade.

"Come on!" Sakura was already outside of the door. Then she turned to her left and right. "Hey, look over there," She ran to where she was pointing. Kakashi swiftly followed her. He watched as she put on her weapons pouch, but his clothes and weapons were nowhere to be found.

"They just underestimated an Anbu Black Ops with a punch that can splinter their skull, Kakashi." He rolled his eyes. Great. He thought. She was right. They probably did lock up all the weapons and explosives he had hidden on his person.

"Yeah, I know. They could've kept my clothes in plain sight though."

"Well we can't go looking for them now," She stated dumbly. He ignored her comment.

"We just killed one of their operatives, so they're going to be aiming to kill us. This place has to go down." He looked around at all the pillars on this floor.

"Are you sure that's not a bit much? I mean, we killed him to defend ourselves. Demolishing this whole building with the people along with it is mass murder. It can also be a sure way to start the Fifth Great Ninja War." Sakura looked at him unsure while he stood there contemplating.

"Yeah, just avoid killing everyone in sight. Try to immobilize them." She turned towards him.

"You know damn well you and I both don't know how to not kill. Baka." She rolled her eyes.

"Try your best. Let's go!" He started running down the corridors. This was not that much different from the Leaf's Anbu HQ. When he turned right, it was just what he expected…Stairs.

"Come on. Now's your time to get used to the layout of Leaf's Anbu HQ." They started to run up the stairs. Sakura chose the ceiling.

"But we're in—" She ran above him and looked down.

"It's the same interior. Just start memorizing now. I know that's what your good at." They've only got through two flights of stairs. Something was wrong.

"Kai!" Sakura was one step ahead of him. The vision before them faded and they were still outside of the room they were chained up in.

"I thought I'd have to kill you where you stood. You looked like you'd never figure it out." The Grass Nin smirked.

"Sakura, it's on you. I have no more chakra." Sakura smiled.

"Finally, I get some worthy action. Give me the best estimate you've got Kaka-sensei." He rolled his eyes at the term of endearment.

"I'd say, with your jutsu…7 minutes min. You can't do it faster than that." He crossed his arms as her opponent stared from Kakashi to Sakura incredulously.

"Are you taking me for granted, Baka-sensei?" Oh no. He thought. This was going to end badly. If they were going to die here, he might as well have as much fun as possible.

"Yes. I believe I am." Last time he said that he ended up with four cracked ribs. If she couldn't see he was trying to get her riled up on purpose, then she really did have tunnel vision when she's angry. He saw chakra seep through her ungloved fist as burns spread across where her chakra touched. He stepped back.

"Are you going to stand there like a no-good Kunoichi, or are you actually going to fight me?" Sakura's head swung around so fast he could swear she had gotten whiplash. An unbelievable look was plastered on her face as she stalked slowly towards her opponent. A smug look was on his face. Another person who underestimated her.

"What? Are you serious?"

"Come on, Pinkie. You aren't seriously planning on doing something with those small fists of yours. Actually, small hands are really good if you know how to use them. Ask pretty boy over there. I'm sure he'll teach y—" His sentence was cut short by a fist to the back of his head. She heard the familiar telltale crack that told her she had accidentally broken his skull.

Her face was flushed and her shoulders heaved up and down with each pant. The chakra from her hands dwindled until little wisps of blue floated from her fists to disappear in the air.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't…I tried, but it was accidental, and I—"

"He deserved it, Sakura." He appeared before her.

"I didn't even get to use my—Kakashi watch out, the blood!" Kakashi jumped back as he saw the blood pouring from his skull was burning through the old concrete floor.

"We have to go, Sakura!" He ran around his body and started up the real stairs. He soon felt Sakura above her.

"Why do you use the ceiling anyways?" He said in a voiced that portrayed his annoyance.

"It's fun. And it's easier. Takes too long to run up every step. Running on the ceiling is like running on the ground, you just have to keep the chakra flowing to your feet precise. And it annoys you so…that's always a plus." She gave him a cheeky grin and he rolled his eyes.

Kakashi stopped at the top of the stairs. He put a hand up to Sakura that also signaled her to stop. What he saw before him was about 30 Grass Ninja. He muttered a curse below his breath. With their actions now, he knew it would start a war.

"Sakura, we can't get out of her without killing them. And one or both of us will die if we try one-on-one combat." She looked as if she was going to say something, but quickly closed her mouth and dropped her head. Kakashi closed his eyes. Her head snapped up as she figured out what he was thinking of doing.

"No one-on-one combat. So what do you want to do? Mass murder? Kakashi, this is crazy. Do you know how much trouble we will get in for this? How much grief? We got trapped. We should wait for Shishou. We kill these people; we start the Fifth Great Ninja War. Please, don't make me do this." Sakura looked onto Kakashi with pleading eyes. His pair snapped open. She looked into black and red.

"I'm sorry. You know, we both know that if we don't, we'll die. And I'm sure you're not ready yet." He smiled. She gave a shaky sigh. He made the three hand seals that started his lightning blade.

"Go, Sakura." He put his back against the stairwell. He closed his eyes, but he felt her disappear. He smiled as he opened his eyes and saw her unknowingly above the Kusagakure Nin, whispering her jutsu. When he saw that 95% of them were at least frozen, he made two clones of himself and went in.

"Raikiri!" He said in unison with his clones. The blood from the necks he was slashing through got on her jacket and his chest. He saw as Sakura tried to help by jumping from her spot on the ceiling to their necks. He watched silently while he finished slitting a neck and dispelled his clones. He saw the distressed looks on the faces of the Ninja who weren't peacefully put in the genjutsu. When she cracked their necks, they were no more. They didn't even have enough control to close their eyes. When she jumped from the last head, he silently nodded.

They both went for the front door. Just when they were about to reach it, a man stepped in. But before he could say anything, Sakura's foot was already midair. Before he knew it, his neck was splayed at an odd angle as his eyes closed and he fell to the floor. She quickly covered her mouth with her hands as her eyes widened.

"I'm sorry! I was in fight or flight mode. I just…oops!" She looked as Kakashi just smirked.

"I told you we don't know how to not kill." She started to gaze at his lips dreamily. When his mouth dropped into a straight line and his eyelids droop she shook her head.

"If I knew you were going to keep doing that when you see my face, I would've never shown it to you in the first place." He crossed his arms over his chest. She put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes.

"Yeah. You should really think of that in our next lifetime. Try not to lose the scroll of approval!" Her voice picked up with every word. He pushed past her into the cold and visibly shivered.

"Cold?" She said with a smirk as she walked up beside him.

"You got anything else I can wear?"

"Unless you want my ass out for the world to see."He gave her a pointed look.

"Shut-up, Baka." He chuckled silently to himself.

"Alright, Sakura. Now you can use all the stuff you learned in training. Make yourself invisible." He watched as she put her fingers together and made herself invisible. He opened his Sharingan and did the same. Then he grabbed her hand.

"Come on!" They started for the forest. If they got past the border of Fire Country, they were safe.

"Kakashi, it'll take about four hours to get home. If we use the rest of our chakra, we'll get there in one hour max."

"That's good. Once we find the path you know, I'll let your hand go. Got it?"

Sakura nodded once. She felt butterflies moving around in her stomach. Yes, they completed the mission and got the Grass ambassador home safely, but now, when the Kusakage finds out, the Leaf Village will be ultimately attacked. Their last war was only six years ago. But this time, it wasn't because of the Akatsuki. It was because of two soon-to-be newly named knucklehead ninja.

Hatake Kakashi and Haruno Sakura.

Life really sucks.

They made it to the border in record time. They were tired, Kakashi was 3/ 4's naked, and it was 2 in the morning. Kakashi jumped off their seat on top of the Village gates.

"I'm going home." He started walking in the direction of the homes in the Village.

"No, you're not! We still haven't thought of the story we're going to tell Tsunade!"She jumped off and followed him.

"We're not going to tell her anything."

"You're right. We're not going to tell Shishou anything. You are. You're going to explain to her how you lost the damn scroll!" She put her hands on her hips. He started walking again.

"I'm going home." He gave a wave as she grabbed his other wrist.

"No, you're not!"

"You're not, I am." He tried to get away from her grip as she tightened it.

"Neither of us is going home until we get our stories straight!"

"Sakura, let go." He voice got darker. But she held her ground.

"No! I got stuck on this mission because of you! This crisis started because of you! You're going to be the one to get us out of this!" She was flushed from angry.

"Sakura! Stop being so damn annoying and let. Me. Go."Her eyes widened as she slowly let go of his wrist. But she wouldn't back down.

"No I'm not! You're the one—" She was cut off when she hear a 'pop'. When the smoke cleared she was furious.

"Kakashi! This is all your fault! You lost the scroll! You're on drugs! You're naked! It was your idea that we had to commit mass murder! Your presence annoys me!" Kakashi transformed himself into Sakura. She felt the anger bubble inside her. How dare he mock her? In her own body!

Well two can play that game. She thought. He had a smug look plastered on his face.

"Do you see how annoying your voice can be when you yell?" But she wasn't listening. She had already changed into Kakashi.

"Sakura. You need to chill. Listen to everything I say, because I'm your superior. My skills can't be wasted on stupid escort missions. All I want to do is sit around and read porn until I die!" At that moment he crossed his hands over his chest. When he realized that he now had breasts and had to put them under, he started to fidget trying to find the right position.

"Stop that!" She shouted angrily.

"Stop what?" He started to smile and fidgeting more because he saw it annoyed her.

"Stop it!" He started to laugh. First he was doing it accidentally, but now he was doing it on purpose. She pulled his vest off and reached under his jonin shirt and started to feel on his chest.

"What the hell are you doing?" He stopped fidgeting.

"Just feeling on myself. How about you?" She started to giggle and he started to squeeze her breasts. She saw what he was doing and started to squeeze his nipples. Both of them looked angry and completely oblivious to what they were doing to themselves.

"Sakura, Kakashi…What the hell are you two doing?" They both turned in the direction of the speaker.

Oh damn. They thought.

"Sakura, Kakashi…What the hell are you two doing?" Tsunade shouted. It was too early in the morning to be called out of her office by Kotetsu. But when she saw the scene before her, her eyes widened. They both transformed back into themselves.

"Shi-Shishou! What are y-you doing here?" Sakura said nervously.

"This is my Village, Sakura. Mind to tell me what you two are doing here? And why were you both each other? And why is Kakashi naked?" At that moment Kakashi was thankful it was too dark to see his face. Because at that moment, the heat pouring from his cheeks told him that he was probably as red as a tomato. Who wouldn't when they were caught masturbating themselves, who wasn't actually them, by their Hokage? He was pulled out of his thoughts as Sakura spoke.

"We just came back from a mission, Shishou." She started twiddling with the hem of her skirt. We should've went over our story. He thought.

"That doesn't tell me why Kakashi is naked." She put her hands on her hips.

"There were some…complications, My Lady. Didn't you get the scroll Pakkun sent you?" He looked onto her quizzically.

"My office, now!" She transported the three of them to her office in a half second. When Sakura's feet hit the ground, she almost fell. Kakashi was quick to grab her forearm. She nodded her head in thank you.

"No scroll was given to me. Not at all. Sakura! Kakashi! Tell me what happened in Kusagakure!" She slammed her fist on the desk as Sakura saw a crack start to form. She looked to Kakashi and he nodded. She started to speak.

"We got our escort safely to the Village Hidden in the Grass. The scroll of approval was misplaced, so we were immediately taken into custody. We were bound and drugged, but Kakashi more so than me."

"How so?"

"They drugged him so he was incoherent. He couldn't think correctly and he couldn't mold chakra. They just put something in my system that stopped the flow of my chakra, but my body pretty much flushed it out. They took all of Kakashi clothes because they knew he had weapons hidden everywhere on his person." She looked to him.

"They took the cyanide pill stored in the cavity of my gums, that you had installed My Lady. When we got out of there, we faced thirty-three ninja. They were all killed. We got out of there as fast as we could." Tsunade stopped gripping the table and sighed at the imprint she left there. She folded her hands over her mouth and closed her eyes.

"Do you understand what you two just did to our very thin alliance with Kusagakure?" Her patience was wearing thin. She could tell by looking at the way her eyebrow was twitching.

"Yes, My Lady." They said in unison.

"Then why were you two masturbating yourselves in front of the Village!" She banged her hand against the desk as the crack widened. Her eyes were glowering. Sakura's head lowered. Kakashi's didn't.

"We were trying to prove a point, Tsunade-sama." He said with the utmost respect. She looked as if she was going to shout again, but instead rub her hands against her eyes. She slammed her palms against the desk and raised herself up.

"I want you both out of my office, and back here by 12." She swiftly moved around her desk and to the door where she paused while holding the knob.

"Kakashi if you're late, Kami help me I will cut off your balls and shove them down your pretty little throat." She stepped out of the door and slammed it behind her. Kakashi knew those words rang true. Sakura looked to him.

"This is all your fault." Then she too, left out the door and slammed it behind him.

Women.

She didn't get much sleep after she went to bed at 3 that morning. When she woke at 11, she was still in her uniform that she'd been in for three days in custody. The rest of her uniforms were either torn or dirty, and she didn't have time to do laundry. She took a fast shower, went to her closet, and pulled out her old uniform; her red Haruno shirt and her shorts. She forewent the medic skirt and slipped her pouch on her waist. She left her shuriken holster on her kitchen table. She was too tired to tie her wet hair in a ponytail so she wrung it out as best as she could. She felt water drip onto her eyes from her bangs and she felt her back wet. But at this point, she didn't care. She just started a war didn't she? So how could wet hair compare to thousands of casualties? She wiped her faced and left. She locked the door behind her and started on the road to the Hokage Tower.

The meeting was horrendous. Kusagakure sent a Declaration of War to Tsunade's office at 6 this morning. It stated the only thing to revoke the Declaration was to send over Kakashi and Sakura. Tsunade wasn't going to send over two of her best ninja to be killed publicly no matter what they did in another country. Clearly they weren't going to get punished for their acts either.

The fact that Kakashi had gotten there earlier scared her. He looked just about as tired as she was. He didn't bother putting on his full uniform. All he had on was a jonin shirt, standard Shinobi pants, and sandals. He was without his hitai-ate; he kept his left eye closed. They didn't speak to each other. She didn't have anything to say and apparently neither did he. They didn't have time to say anything either. Grass was already on their tails.

Security was doubled. It was only 3 in the afternoon and already there were six instances of Grass Ninja sneaking over the border. They were killed. Sunagakure was contacted and the Kazekage was also on alert. If it eventually came to war, Suna was on their side at least. The only people Kakashi and Sakura were getting grief from was civilians who didn't understand that when your bound in enemy territory, it's do or die.

When Sakura got out of Tsunade's office, she sulked on the road home. Her head was hung low and she wasn't watching where she was going. It was only when she bumped into something hard and heard a deep 'Excuse Me', did she finally look up.

"Oh, Sasuke." He didn't make a move to get out of her way.

"Sakura?" He made eye contact but she looked away.

"What do you want?" She said in a tired voice.

"I want to—"

"No." She finally pushed her wet bangs out of her face. Usually she would rather take the water dripping on her face than showing her forehead, but right now, she was tired. She didn't want to go anywhere, or do anything with him. She already closed that chapter in her life, and she wasn't looking to rekindle that bond with him.

"What?"

"Sasuke, we're done, okay? You made that clear to me. I don't love you, and you are surely not in love with me. So let's stop pretending like we can pick up where we left off. You haven't said anything to me in two years, so what's the sudden interest?" He just stared at her. She saw his fists clench in his pockets.

"We'll always be comrades, Sasuke. Always." She patted his chest and walked around him.

She shook her head as she walked the rest of the way home. What was up with him? Oh yeah. Now that she got her tattoo, everyone would know that she was Anbu. Jerk. She started muttering and bumped into another hard chest.

"What the hell is up with you men and blocking my path?" When she looked at the face of the perpetrator, she saw he had gray, erm, silver hair.

"What do you want?" She crossed her arms over her chest, but then quickly fixed them back at her sides when she remembered what he was doing to them yesterday. Well, not really hers, but his, technically. A copy perhaps?

"I wanted to say something to you about what happened this morning." He looked nervous. If this wasn't such an awkward situation, she would've laughed. She made the Great Copy Ninja shake in his boots.

"It's ok—"

"You have really nice tits, Sakura." He smirked.

"You Baka!" She smacked his arm playfully.

"You thought I was going to apologize? My actions were clearly justified by the way you were acting yesterday, and the day before, and the—Why don't we just say you've been bothering me since the mission started?" He folded his arms across his chest.

"Well then, your nipples are pretty nice too," She stuck her chin up in the air, but couldn't keep her façade and started to laugh. He started to walk and she shortly fell into step beside him.

"Late breakfast? It's on you." He looked at her as she rolled her eyes.

"Whatever, Kaka-sensei. I brought no money today," She patted her pockets in emphasis.

"Oh, really? I guess we're going to be washing dishes." She smiled up at him. These times with Kakashi gave her comfort. She felt at ease with him. During their time at training, they've became more than comrades. She could trust him with her life. He'd told her the same.

-Flashback-

"W-What? What did you just say?" She glanced at him quickly, but turned back towards the enemy.

"I trust you with my life, Sakura." He closed his smokey gray eye.

"Well, why are you saying that?" She was panicking. His back was on hers and the enemy was coming towards them in a sea of black.

"Because I'm almost out of chakra and I can trust you to get us out of here. There's not that many people still living I can say that to." She froze."Sakura, pay attention to your left." She kicked.

"Well, promise me you won't die until I see your face." He felt the rumble of his dark chuckle through his chest.

"I promise."

-End Flashback-

"By the way, that Anbu tattoo looks nice on you." She started to rub the still sore spot on her right shoulder.

"Thanks. It feels to me he penciled it in just a little too hard." He silently chuckled to himself. With her fidgeting he probably didn't do it on purpose. When they came across a diner that didn't have too many customers, they went inside. They sat in a small booth near the back and started looking at the menu. When a waitress came over, Kakashi looked up and smiled. It was the kind he liked; civilian, pretty face, red hair, big bust. What Sakura liked to call artificial. They were most likely fake anyway.

"I'll have steamed rice and miso soup." Kakashi said as he handed her their menus.

"I'll have the same." The waitress didn't give Sakura a second look as she winked at Kakashi. He gave her an eye crinkle. When he turned back towards Sakura he saw a scowl that could made the Fourth Hokage flinch.

"What?" He smiled at her obvious distress.

"I hate civilians." He chuckled while setting his arms on the tabletop. "I mean, what do they see in you anyways? Gray," He gave her a pointed look. "Silver hair, they can't see your face, and you're so mysterious, more than half of Konoha don't know where you live! I can't even begin to count how many Bingo Books you're in on my fingers and toes. I bet you could kill someone with your little finger. I don't think you even know what to do with all those suicide jutsu you have up your sleeve." She rolled her eyes and put her elbows on the table. She rested her face in her hands.

"I thought that's what women like; bad boys…" He scratched his mask chin as she started to laugh.

"Yeah, whatever." The waitress returned with their food on a tray. She bent over to place them on the side of the table in front of Kakashi when a button 'accidentally' popped and showed a bit too much breasts for her liking. Sakura's eyes widened then narrowed. She watched silently first as Kakashi switched his attention from her chest back to her face. It was probably too fast for a civilian to catch, but she saw it. Shameless Pervert.

"Oops! I'm sorry. Do you mind helping me with that Kakashi-san? My hands are full."

"Just Kakashi," He smiled as his hands made a move to button her shirt. Her eyes narrowed more, if that was possible.

"Oh, no. That's alright, honey." Both heads turned towards her with widened eyes. Kakashi's was less obvious. "I'll help her with her shirt. You can grab the tray." She got up and bent over the table towards the waitress when she shot up with a blush evident on her freckled cheeks. She hurriedly placed the tray on the table.

"N-No, that's quite alright. You don't have to do that. Enjoy your meal!" She scurried away from the table. Sakura sat back down with a smug look plastered on her face. Kakashi with a scowl on his face. She could tell by his unusually droopy eyes. If he were in any mood to joke, he would say their facial expressions switched. But he wasn't. So he didn't.

"For what, Sakura." He leaned back in his seat.

"That was clearly inappropriate for the state of our economy." She closed her eyes and stuck her chin in the air.

"Bull." He look was unchanging.

"We're on the brink of war!" She banged her hands on the table.

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow.

"So then what? You button her shirt up, she takes you around back, and you give her your address. You disappear from all your duties and activities for that day. When someone comes to find you the next morning, you always use the same excuse." As she was talking, his eyes widened in disbelief. Then they narrowed.

"What is it?" He leaned forward. She started to bite her lip as she realized what she was spouting off about.

"Let me hear you say it, Sakura." He stared intently at her.

"There was a little pussycat I found that was in need of tender care…" She never really understood what it meant until now.

"Have you been following me, Sakura?" He sat back up.

"No! Women at the public baths like to gossip, and you're a very frequent topic." He raised his eyebrows. He wouldn't tell her that whenever he goes to the hot springs, she's always the one they talk about. That would no doubt turn her into a prude. Most likely make her self-conscious. And while that sounds highly entertaining, it wasn't in his agenda of things to do. So he laughed to make her feel better.

"What's so funny?" Apparently it didn't work.

"Well—"

"Hey you guys! All of us are needed in Baa-chan's mission room!" Naruto came jogging over towards their table in the back. Sakura rolled her eyes. She pulled her plate towards her only to find it was empty.

"Wha—" She looked to Kakashi.

"You're so cruel! I haven't eaten in like five days!" She dropped her forehead to the table. "Cruel, cruel man." She continued to mumble to herself as Kakashi chuckled.

"Alright, I'll buy you lunch." He slapped some bills on the table and grabbed her by the arm to raise her off the table.

"It's almost five. Buy me dinner." She heard her stomach grumble loudly. "Ohhhhhhh."

"Alright, once we get back from the meeting." She surprised him and ran for the door.

"Then come on! Let's get this meeting over with!" She pulled the door open and walked outside. Naruto came and fell into step beside her, while Kakashi was a little ways back with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

"Haruno?" Naruto looked down at her.

"Hm?" Her hands were linked behind her back; she was walking with her eyes closed. He pulled her into a tight hug and she was caught by surprise.

"Congratulations on making Anbu." She smiled.

"Thank you so much," She gave him a tight squeeze then let go. "The only way you can surpass me now is by making Hokage, Namikaze." He gave her a toothy grin.

"Tell that to granny! She doesn't look like she's stepping down anytime soon and she's what? Pushing 60?" She laughed while he grinned again.

"Don't let her hear that Naruto, or you'll meet your demise far before you become the official Rokudaime." She smiled despite the seriousness of the matter. She didn't notice they were already in the Hokage tower. They all started up the stairs, then down the long hallway to the place where millions of missions have been given out since the beginning of Konoha. Naruto held the door open for her.

She saw that most of the people she grew up with and some elites were already there. Iruka was there in a seat beside Tsunade. She found Sasuke and Yamato-taichou and went to stand beside them. Naruto and Kakashi followed behind her. They waited roughly five minutes before she saw Ino's team come in with Genma, Raidou, and Shizune following behind. Shizune was in her ninja gear. She saw Genma nod to Kakashi. He nodded back.

"Okay. The reason why all of you were called here is because there have been skirmishes along the border. Five casualties on our side, twenty-eight on their side. It won't be long until they bring their full forces across. Suna has been informed. They've long had spies in Kusagakure. Their most important spy is in the intelligence division in the Village Hidden in the Grass. His name is Tadashi Nao." Iruka then started passing around a picture of his face.

"If you see him, he is to be captured to erase suspicion that he is on our side. We will negotiate a Peace Treaty and thus end the war. If all else fails, engage. Radios will be given out to everyone in this room. Contact base and reinforcements will be sent out." Iruka got up again and started to pass out small ear pieces with microphones attached. "Frequency four. Remember. This is not an immediate thing. You will be put into four-man squads." Tsunade then stood.

"Team One; Neji, Guy, TenTen, Lee! You four will be patrolling the south perimeters. If they need to be contacted at any time, their frequency is 12." She pointed to the group beside them.

"Inoichi, Skikaku, and Choza, you three will make Team 2, frequency 13."

"Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru will make Team 3, frequency 14." It went on a bit like that for a while. Sakura hearing people who worked best together being grouped. Like, Genma, Raidou, Shizune, and Tenzou no doubt made up one of the few three man squads. Her feet were starting to hurt in her high heeled boots, and it seemed as though the number of jonin in the room was endless. But of course, her squad was called last.

"And Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi, you will make up the last four-man squad. Team 7." Of course. She thought. "You will be patrolling the borders eastbound when needed. Frequency 2. All the other specialty squads are to leave at once for recon." Iruka started handing out scrolls to the specialty squads.

"You will be called when you are needed. Dismissed!" Everyone started to flood out of the mission room. Her team was the last to go. She could only pray that they wouldn't get called anytime soon. She just got back from the mission that started this whole thing and Kakashi owed her dinner. Speaking of the devil, he was walking out the door.

"Don't you dare!" She shouted to him. He stopped and turned around.

"Caught." He grinned. Naruto came behind her with Sasuke in tow.

"Hey, Haruno," She turned around to face the voice, but kept her eyes solely on Naruto. Not the emotionless black pair staring holes through her.

"Yeah. Uzumaki?" She put her hands on her hips. If she didn't eat something soon, she was going to pass out.

"Everyone's meeting at the pub at 9-ish. The whole 'last night on earth' type of thing. Since you have no say, I'll pick you up around that time. Look nice!" And with that he made his way past her towards where Hinata was standing. She rolled her eyes. Don't have a say?

"If you go, I'll go." Kakashi's voice surprised her. When she got out of the initial shock, she answered.

"Buy me my dinner first and I'll consider it." He rolled his eyes in disbelief as she started to walk. He followed her anyways.

"But if I did decide to go, what would you wear?" He tapped his chin in thoughtfulness as he looked up to the night sky.

"This. You?" She snorted. He probably wouldn't change his clothing routine for all the money in the world.

"Just a little black dress. Nothing too fancy or too casual. I'll be horribly disappointed if Naruto came in his uniform when he specifically told us to look nice." She huffed. Then she sighed. "But I don't know if I would really mind it. I do like how you ninja look in uniform. Actually, I probably wouldn't be able to resist any good-looking man in uniform." She laughed to herself. Kakashi started to unconsciously tug at his standard wear shirt and pants.

"But I'll go Kakashi, if that's what you're asking. If only just to see what on earth you will wear."

She nearly chocked at the sight before her. Ino's eyes were just about as wide as hers if not wider. They both straightened and tried to fix their dresses though there was nothing wrong with them.

"Forehead, would you take a look at that. I don't think I've ever seen so many Anbu with their masks off." Ino started to grin madly. She saw the door of the pub swing open and in walked almost every ninja in Konoha in their uniforms. She saw Genma and Tenzou first. They were in their Anbu uniform. Tenzou went without his metal mask. She saw most of her generation in what was probably their best standard wear. Then she saw Guy, and wondered how the spandex was working for him. He too had an Anbu uniform. Then last to come in was Kakashi. He was in his Anbu uniform. Come to think of it, she's never seen him in it. The way it complimented his lean but fit body was wonderful. She saw how his muscles flexed whenever he turned a page in his porn, and when he walked past, she saw how really firm his ass was. The elite dressed in Anbu took a seat in the back. She decided to go to the booth where Naruto and Sasuke were seated and dragged Ino with her.

Maybe she should've worn her Anbu uniform. Her tattoo was clearly displayed on her right shoulder for everyone to see in her dress. She thought she was too dressed up when it seemed almost everyone was in their uniforms, but that was the last on her mind. The dress Ino picked out was too short and too form-fitting. Call her a prude, but she didn't want her goodies out for everyone to see. Her dress was strapless and black. It was cut so that her back was open and the fabric closed at the small of her back. She tied all her hair into a bun except for her bangs that fell over her eyebrows, and the ones that shaped her face. She only wore a hint of makeup; she didn't want to overdo it.

"You look nice, Sakura!" Naruto said as she took a seat beside him.

"You too, Naruto." And he did. He was dressed in his full jonin standard wear. He even had a Katana strapped to his back. He left his hitai-ate at home like most of the other ninja did. Ino was too busy focusing on Sasuke, while Sasuke was too busy staring at Sakura, who was clearly fixated on the booth across the room where the top elite sat. She saw Kakashi turn towards her and grin. She took that as initiative that she was invited.

It wasn't that long of a walk to their table, but the 'click clack' of her high heels made it seem even longer. She took a seat next to Genma and nodded to Tenzou. She felt an arm snake around her waist and she rolled her eyes. Typical Genma.

"Did you forget something, blossom?" He buried his head in her neck. She looked to Kakashi for any kind of help, but his face was buried in his book. As usual.

"Hello, Genma." She said sweetly. She tried angling her neck to get it away from him, but all it did was give him better access.

"Alright Kohai, that's enough." Kakashi snapped his book shut and placed it on the table.

"Ohhh, so now we play who's captain, eh?" Genma's face and arm was removed from her person.

"Arrogant little, you went there Kakashi." He continued to grumble to himself until a waitress came. She was promptly pulled into his lap. At least he found a new plaything. When she returned her attention back to the table, she saw Kakashi staring at her.

"What?"

"Aren't you going to do something about that?" She rolled her eyes.

"He started it, so who am I to but in?"

"Bull."

"Hmph." She crossed her arms as Kakashi signaled to the waitress. She got up from Genma and took the long way around the booth and wrapped her hands around Kakashi's neck while whispering in his ear. She saw him smile and she looked away. Genma was furious. When the waitress left, he spoke up.

"Are you serious?" His palms were flat on the table.

"What?" The book was returned to his face, but she heard a smile in his voice.

"Keep stealing my women, Kakashi. There will be hell to pay." His voice had an edge to it that suggested he wasn't just playing.

She sat there silently as she listened to the one-sided argument of Genma and Kakashi. He clearly wasn't going to get into it. And Genma certainly wasn't going to get a reaction. Is that what he was angling for? When the waitress returned, she saw Genma's facial expressions change from angry to flirty.

"Hey, cutie. I ordered the sake." She brushed off his attempt at flirting and came towards him to set the bottle of sake down in front of him with two cups. She then quickly went back towards Kakashi and positioned herself on his lap. Sakura tuned them out as she saw Kakashi bury his face in her hair and say something that made her giggle. She started to play with his uniform when he whispered something to her that made her get up. Sakura followed her with her eyes and watched as she went near the washroom. Finally.

She poured herself a cup of sake while she saw the book return to Kakashi's face. It was eerily quiet on their side of the table, so she decided to break the silence.

"So, Kakashi, when am I going to get my first…Anbu…mission." She trailed off as she saw him get up and go towards the washroom. He was going in the wrong direction because that was where the women…She felt her heart clench painfully.

"I-I'm sorry Genma, I'll see you later." Her words fell on deaf ears because Genma had already found someone else to occupy her time. She weaved around the table when she heard Ino shout. She stopped.

"Forehead, where are you going? It's only 10!"

"I'm sorry Ino, I don't feel too good." And that was the truth. Because right then, she felt a knot in her stomach that didn't feel too pleasant. She continued walking. When she got outside the pub she took in a deep breath and let out a shaky sigh. She felt queasy. She bent over slightly and put her hands on her knees when she felt something coming up her throat. Why was she feeling like this? Like she just got stabbed through the gut? Her thoughts were cut short when she felt a strong hand on her shoulder. Her eyes brightened when she figured it would be Kakashi there to crack a joke and walk her home, but it wasn't. It was the person she least expected it to be.

"Sakura? Are you alright?"

Sasuke.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it, so please review!

-Keoo19