Chapter Twenty One

The sunlight was so clear as it shined through the curtains to the hotel room Kakashi and Sakura were staying in. She laid on his bare chest as her hair painted the sheets with their soft pink strands.

Kakashi mindlessly ran his fingers through the silky threads, his eyes closed as he enjoyed this still moment in time. The blanket belonging to the bed laid over their waists as Kakashi rested his free hand on Sakura's lower back.

After an hour she began to stir, he looked down watching those beautiful eyes of hers open. Kakashi smiled as she blinked a few times then looked up at him with a sleepy look still resting on her face. Kakashi laughed, reaching down and kissing the top of her head.

"Good morning." He smiled.

"Morning." Sakura breathed, putting her head back on his chest as she closed her eyes. Sakura was not a morning person. She laid on Kakashi's chest listening to his heartbeat, last night replayed through her mind as she felt Kakashi's naked body underneath her.

Bizz...Bizz...

Sakura looked to the in table next to the bed, her phone was underneath a bag full of uneaten candy that they never got around to eating.

"Fuck." Sakura breathed, closing her eyes as she placed her forehead on Kakashi's chest.

"Hm?" Kakashi asked,

"I had a meeting." Sakura groaned recalling her and Dawn setting up the meeting for today. Sakura had planned on being back in the waterfall village in the early morning after getting some sleep inside the leaf village, but the river village called her, so she whisked right on over thinking they were in trouble. They were not, they just wanted her blood.

"A meeting about what?" Kakashi wondered, moving an arm behind his head.

"Word had gotten around about Carver and Raiden training the Leaf shinobi, so now other villages feel this is unfair and want me to send a team to them so their shinobi can be trained." Sakura explained, she knew she should get up quickly get dressed and rush to her village, but she didn't want to move.

"Hm." Kakashi nodded, he quickly flipped the two. Kakashi hovered over Sakura who looked confused. "Well you already missed your meeting." He said,

"Yeah, now I have pissed off village leaders and-"

"And-" Kakashi cut in, "-you should spend the morning with me."

"Wha-?"

"They can wait a few more hours." He whispered, leaning down and placing his lips against hers.

"That's easy for you to say, you're not the one who has to deal with them." Sakura broke the kiss.

"I'll deal with them." Kakashi smirked, "If it means I get you all to myself all morning, send them my way."

"I-" Kakashi kissed Sakura again, stopping her from talking. Her hand found the side of his face as she allowed herself to melt into his grasp. "-I should really get going-" Kakashi kissed down Sakura's neck.

"You really want me to stop?" He breathed, gripping the side of her hip keeping her from moving.

"Well-" Sakura's mind filled with lust as logic stepped on the sidelines. Kakashi quickly moved up to hover over her face.

"You vanish from me for weeks at a time, they can wait a few more hours." He said, leaving no room for argument as his hand left Sakura's side, traveling down her stomach and in between her thighs

----

Kakashi kissed Sakura's shoulder, he laid behind her holding her against him. Their arms were extended out in front of them. Kakashi played with Sakura's fingers as a small smile rested on her lips. They ignored the buzzing of a phone as they laid in that bed for another peaceful hour. Sakura looked behind her letting Kakashi place another kiss on her, time with him seemed to evaporate. Sakura moved to lay on her back as Kakashi propped himself up with his hand.

"Dawn is probably having a heart attack." Sakura said with a laugh mixed in her voice.

"She is your second in command?" Kakashi asked,

"Yeah." Sakura nodded, enjoying the feel of Kakashi's arm around her. "She is a good person, a little tightly strung but...good." Kakashi smiled he wanted to know everyone who Sakura held close to her, he wanted to know everything about her.

After another twenty minutes Sakura and Kakashi finally got out of bed. Sakura stepped into a steaming shower, she felt someone behind her and saw a smiling Kakashi.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Saving water." He answered, stepping in behind her.

"I don't think that is accurate." Sakura muttered, Kakashi gazed down on the pinkette. He kissed her shoulder; the same one he had bandaged up with the large cutting running over it, it was healing nicely.

"I have already seen you naked so..." Kakashi chuckled at Sakura's scowl.

After a hot shower and small breakfast, Sakura and Kakashi stepped outside into the warm river village air.

"Are you ready?" Sakura turned to Kakashi.

"If I say no, do I get you to myself longer?" Kakashi wondered, causing Sakura to chuckle.

"I'm afraid not." Sakura answered as wind began to spin around them.

"Damn." Kakashi said, leaning down and placing one last kiss against her lips before they reached the leaf village. The wind broke around them, Sakura tilted her head seeing leaf shinobi all laying on their asses looking like they were just punched.

"Little warning next time!" Raiden yelled; Sakura smiled watching him jump up. "You nearly knocked us all over!"

"Sorry." Sakura chuckled, Kakashi walked a few feet from her. Turning and watching wind wrap in a circle taking her away from him. Kakashi's chest felt heavy as he heard Naruto and others run to his side confused, why was Sakura already leaving!? Kakashi sighed as she vanished, being ripped away into a village he hated.

"Kakashi!?" Raiden yelled, breaking through to the masked shinobi.

"Hm?"

"Where did she go!?"

"The Waterfall Village." Kakashi answered,

"Why?"

"She had a meeting."

"How is the River village?" Carver wondered.

"Yeah, what was wrong that they needed Sakura?" Naruto asked.

"Nothing." Kakashi said, pulling out his book. "How is training?"

"You-You can't only give us that little amount of detail!" Naruto yelled,

"Why did they need her!?" Raiden added, his voice ringing in Kakashi's ear.

"They needed her blood." Kakashi answered.

"What-What?!" Raiden spouted, "That's it!?"

"Yes, they are very dramatic over there." Kakashi said, "I can see where you get it." He muttered before walking away with his nose inside what was his favorite book. After his night with Sakura, this book couldn't compare to his wild time with his cherry blossom.

----

Five long days passed the leaf village. Carver and Raiden trained the leaf village, Naruto and the leaf shinobi got stronger and faster. Carver and Raiden were proud of their progress and claimed Sakura would be to whenever she swung by. Sakura hadn't been responding to their calls and texts. She didn't even reply to Kakashi, he thought they had a special night together after all, he was the first man she had ever been with. He thought for sure she would at least text him of all people. Was it possible Kakashi was reading more into the night they shared together?

Kakashi sighed, he was too focused on his thoughts as he climbed the side of this mountain, his right arm tied behind his back to make it harder. Even with fall in full bloom and the chilly air Kakashi was feeling hot as he climbed his way up the mountain with no safety harness to offer protection.

Even though he was stories high and the fact one wrong move could cause him to fall to his death, he couldn't keep those blaring green orbs out of his head. Kakashi constantly thought about their hot steamy night as if it was set on replay in his head. If he wasn't a sane man, he would for sure think that night was all in his fantasy. Five days, one hundred and twenty hours since he had seen or spoken to her...this was a madness he had never felt before.

Kakashi sighed, reaching the top of the mountain. He hadn't realized how far he climbed as he lifted himself over the edge. He needed to get a grip and stop being so distracted. Kakashi saw two black boots, he blinked before looking up. Her hair shined in the sunlight.

"What-?" Kakashi breathed.

"I thought for sure you weren't going to make it for a second." Sakura teased as she moved to sit beside him, her legs hung over the cliff.

"What are you-?" Kakashi was stunned, five simple days felt like five painful years since he had seen her. She glanced over with a grin on her lips, the same lips he kissed so freely not so long ago. "Where have you been?" He breathed; Sakura handed him a water bottle.

"Busy." She replied, Kakashi lowered his mask and took a long drink. Busy? Was that the only thing she was going to say to him? It was him...he thought they were closer than she was with Naruto and the others... "Stop." Kakashi looked up at the sound of her voice, she had an annoyed look on her face.

"What?" He was dumbfounded.

"Stop looking at me like a hurt puppy."

"I-I am-" Kakashi was at a loss for words, Sakura had an effect about her that just left him spinning out.

"I am sorry." She said, looking away from him and towards the sunset. "I wanted to call you."

"Then why didn't you?" He asked, reaching over and cupping the side of her face with his hand. She was real, he just had to make sure she was really here with him.

"I just got busy..." Sakura trailed off, Kakashi noticed the light bags under her eyes.

"You haven't been sleeping." He noted.

"Yeah." Sakura nodded, she finally turned to look at him.

"You know you can talk to me about-"

"I know." Sakura smiled, "It's nothing." Sakura laughed, "There is no conspiracy that I am hiding from you. I have been jumping from one meeting to another and dealing with petty shit like the Stone Village-"

"Stone Village?" Kakashi questioned,

"Yeah."

"What about them?"

"You think I am going to let Onoki try and lead a strike against me?" Sakura laughed, "No." She shook her head.

"What did you do?"

"I didn't attack him like Kaguya wanted too."

"She wanted to attack the Stone Village?" Kakashi breathed, an act like that would cause an all-out war between the villages.

"Yeah, but I stopped her which is another reason why I have been so busy." Sakura gave Kakashi a sad smile, she has missed him a lot in the past five days. Sakura cleared her throat and looked ahead, "So what has everyone been up to around here?" She changed the subject.

"It's been quiet, same old routine." Kakashi grinned, reaching around and pulling her into him.

"That's good." Sakura smiled, her muscles relaxed feeling Kakashi against her. Without his flak jacket on she could feel the warmth of his body through his thin black long sleeve. She could also see the outlines of his toned body making her think back to her night with him as more dirty thoughts trickled into her mind.

"What are you up too?" Kakashi wondered, why was she here? Sakura shrugged,

"Just thought I would swing by, see how Carver and Raiden are doing and how their training is coming along."

"I see..." Kakashi sighed, leaning back taking Sakura with him. "...well it is late now, so chances are everyone is already eating dinner and settling down for the night."

"Probably." Sakura agreed.

"You could come home with me." Kakashi smiled.

"Mm..." Sakura trailed off teasing him. "Why would I do that?"

"I am so entertaining." Kakashi gestured to himself as the two stood.

"I wouldn't call it entertaining-" Sakura chuckled.

"I could make us dinner, and we never did get to have that undead marathon." Kakashi smiled as he pulled up his mask. "I still have all that candy."

"I should probably check on-" Kakashi closed the space between the two,

"If you make me beg you now-" He warned, "I'll make you beg all night long." He threatened, his hands trailing down Sakura's body and settled on her hips.

"I-I guess they can wait until morning." Sakura felt flushed as Kakashi's nose trailed up and down her neck.

"Better." Kakashi smiled, taking her hand. "Let's go." He said leading them to his apartment. Sakura smiled, letting the masked man drag her to wherever he wanted to go. The two easily reached Kakashi's apartment without being spotted by anyone. Kakashi wants Sakura all to himself for the night, he didn't want to have to share her with her two teammates or with Naruto and Sasuke.

Sakura found it entertaining watching Kakashi dodge people as they walked through the village. She told him she could transport them there but then Carver and Raiden would feel her chakra and most likely come running, which was what Kakashi didn't want. Kakashi locked his door as he breathed, sliding his mask down. Sakura looked around his apartment, he studied her movements as he went to take off his gear and shoes.

"Do you want anything specific for dinner?" He asked, Sakura turned to him shrugging. Carver and Raiden told Kakashi and the rest of team seven about their diet before stationing inside the leaf village. They would go days, even weeks eating nothing but water and meal bars. Kakashi wanted to feed her something flavorful and filling since he knew that is all she really ate.

"So, this is your apartment." Sakura looked around the one bedroom, one bath apartment.

"Yes." Kakashi chuckled, "You have been here before."

"True." Sakura nodded, but during that time she didn't really care. She moved into the kitchen and watching Kakashi, after some time he shooed her into the living room to go sit down and watch TV, something she rarely did. Sakura plopped down; she spotted the two books sitting on the coffee table. She picked up the red one and flipped it open, she sat in silence as she read the book since Kakashi kicked her out of the kitchen.

Twenty five minutes Kakashi walked out of the kitchen with two plates in hand. He decided to cook up stake, green beans and mashed potatoes. Kakashi placed them on the coffee table in front of Sakura and walked back to the kitchen to grab two beers, he noticed Sakura drinking them with Carver and Raiden, so he bought a pack.

Kakashi walked back to the living room finally noticing the TV was not on. He turned to Sakura; his heart slammed into his throat as he quickly reached out to take the copy of icha icha violence from Sakura's hand. She dodged his grasp with ease, she got up not taking her eyes off the page.

"Sakura!" Kakashi hissed,

"Hm?" She hummed quickly walking around the couch in order to get away from Kakashi. Kakashi tried to jump over the piece of furniture but Sakura was a step ahead of him. He growled feeling annoyed as he spun around trying to get his hands on her.

"Give that to me-!"

"So, this is what you have been reading." Sakura was a fast reader, years of being a bookworm paid off.

"It-It's not what you think!" Kakashi defended.

"Oh, it isn't?" Sakura laughed, "Because it looks like you're a kinky little fucker-" Sakura jumped back out of Kakashi's reach.

"Sakura, I swear of you don't-"

"What?" Sakura taunted, "What are you going to do?"

"If you don't give that back to me, I'll bend you over that couch and show you." Kakashi demanded, a sly smirk spread across Sakura's face.

"Is that a promise?" Sakura asked, shocking Kakashi as well as turning him on.

"Sakura-"

"Kakashi." Sakura copied Kakashi, she went back to reading the book as her and Kakashi ran around his apartment playing a cat and mouse game. Sakura twisted, as she did her side stung, she hissed out letting Kakashi get his hands on her. The two fell to the floor, Kakashi pinned Sakura's hands above her head. Kakashi breathed heavily playfully glaring down at her.

"Aw, don't tell me your out of breath already?" Sakura smiled causing Kakashi to lean down nipping her ear as he did so, he found his way in between Sakura's legs.

"I wasn't the one out of breath the last time we were like this." Kakashi whispered in her ear, Kakashi laughed at the pout on Sakura's face, she couldn't think of a comeback, she stuck her tongue out at him like a child would. He smiled, bending down and licking her tongue. Sakura's eyes opened in surprised as Kakashi smirked feeling victorious. "Come on-" He said lifting her with him. "-Before dinner gets cold."

"Hm?" She perked up at the sound of food, Kakashi smiled seeing this. She sat beside Kakashi on the couch and looked at the plate in front of her. "You made this?" She asked,

"Yes." Kakashi chuckled, "Why?"

"How?"

"How did I cook it?" Kakashi repeated, "I used an oven and-"

"Ha-Ha smart ass." Sakura cut in making Kakashi smile. Kakashi turned on the same movie that they had tried watching in the river village before they got...distracted.

"This is really good." Sakura said,

"Why do you sound so surprised?" Kakashi wondered,

"You don't really seem like the cooking type." Sakura laughed,

"And you are?" Kakashi wondered,

"Hell no." Sakura smiled at memories of her trying to cook for the Nine and failed horribly, she gave them food poisoning, twice. "I can't cook to save my life."

"Really?" Kakashi was a little surprised.

"Why do you sound so shocked?" Sakura asked, "Because I am a woman I should know-"

"No." Kakashi smiled, placing his hand on her knee, "You just seem like you're the type to be perfect at everything you do."

"I am not perfect." Sakura said taking a bite of green beans. "So that book-"

"We are not talking about the book." Kakashi quickly cut in making Sakura laugh.

"So touchy." She muttered as they finished their dinner. Sakura helped Kakashi clean up, "Thanks for dinner." She said,

"I'll cook for you any time." Kakashi said.

"Yeah?"

"Of course." Kakashi smiled,

"I may hold you to that." Sakura said, drying the last plate. "If I can." Sakura nodded to herself,

"What?" Kakashi asked,

"Nothing." Sakura smiled, shrugging it off.

"Tell me." Kakashi wouldn't let it go, not seeing she was just teasing him.

"You said I can hold you to it but I am still waiting for you-" Kakashi pushed Sakura back, she hit the wall with Kakashi on top of her before she knew what was happening Kakashi was kissing her.

"What was that?" He growled against her lips, Sakura smirked kissing him back as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Kakashi lifted Sakura her legs wrapped around his waist as he walked them into his bedroom, Kakashi pushed the door closed before dropping Sakura onto the bed reaching up behind him and pulled his shirt off.

----

The next day Kakashi spent his morning lying in bed as Sakura slept beside him. He licked his lips, gazing down at her sleeping expression. He so badly wanted to wake her up, pin her down and go another round with her but she was clearly exhausted and not from him. With a forced huff Kakashi removed himself from Sakura, throwing on loose fitting bottoms he made his way into the kitchen to make breakfast and some much-needed coffee.

The time just blurred past Kakashi as he realized he was done making breakfast. Eggs, bacon, toast and coffee were all placed on the coffee table by the couch ready. He glanced at the bedroom; he didn't want to wake her up she looked like she needed the sleep. He got up and walked to the bedroom, he stared at the woman twisted inside his sheets.

His hand touched her leg, gliding through her hourglass frame until he reached her shoulder. Her eyes fluttered open, Kakashi nervously laughed seeing he had woken her,

"Hey-Hey." He smiled,

"Hey." Sakura yawned moving to lay on her back, her eyes never leaving Kakashi. "What are you doing?" She wondered why he was up and moving so early. He smiled, getting up and moving into his bathroom. "Ok." Sakura muttered, rolling her back to yawn and stretch. Kakashi came out holding medical supplies in his hands. Sakura watched him sit beside her on the bed. He didn't ask permission as he pulled his shirt that she wore up exposing her stomach which had a white gauze on the side of it. "You don't-" Sakura went to stop Kakashi from changing the bandage.

"I'm already doing it." Kakashi turned and grinned at her. Sakura sighed, setting her head back on the pillow as Kakashi pilled the gauze from her skin. They were silent has he cleaned and began to redress the cut. "This doesn't look better from the last time I did this." He muttered.

"It is." Sakura said, Kakashi knew she was lying. He knew her constant moving around probably reopened this gash, she wasn't giving her body the time it needed to heal.

"You really should be-"

"I'm fine." Sakura said, moving her arm above her head. "You worry too much."

"If I don't worry about you, who will?" Kakashi questioned.

"That's the point." Sakura muttered; it was her job to take care of others she didn't need people worrying about her. Once this poison was out of her system, she could heal her body fully, so it was just a matter of time. Kakashi decided to ignore the comment, he didn't want to start a fight and her leave for who knows how long this time.

"Do you have any meetings today?" He switched subjects.

"Yeah." Sakura sighed, sitting up and getting off the bed.

"You have time to eat though?" Kakashi thought about all the food he made and didn't want to go to waste. Sakura glanced back at him and smirked.

"Of course." She smiled before walking into the bathroom. Sakura took a quick shower and was standing in front of the bathroom mirror half dressed when she noticed Kakashi leaning against the door frame. "What?" She chuckled, Kakashi walked into the bathroom placing himself behind her. She wore her black pants; her tank top and her long sleeve shirt was still on Kakashi's bedroom floor.

"Nothing." He said, bending down and kissing the love bite on her neck. "I did not mean to leave this." He muttered against her skin, Kakashi couldn't recall when he could have left this, but then again it was a very passionate and lustful night. Now that he thought about it, he wouldn't be surprised if he left a few more on her.

"It's fine." Sakura said, she knew her shirt would cover the mark. Kakashi held his hand out in front of her,

"Hm?" She asked looking down seeing a silver key resting in his hand.

"For you." He said.

"A key?" Sakura asked picking it up from his warm hand.

"Just in case you need a place to go where people aren't trying to kill you." Kakashi smiled, "Or if you just want a quiet place to sleep, you can come here."

"Kakashi..." Sakura turned from looking into the mirror and look up at his unmasked face.

"Are you ready to eat?" He asked,

"Yeah." Sakura said now that her long hair was tied back out of the way. Sakura and Kakashi sat on the couch as they ate breakfast in low conversation.

"You said you have another meeting today?" Kakashi asked, placing his plate in the sink.

"Uh, Yeah." Sakura said picking up her phone and putting it in her pocket, she was now fully dressed and ready to kick start this day.

"What is it-" Kakashi stopped talking feeling Sakura's kiss against his cheek. He turned to her confused.

"I have to get going." She said, he could feel a breeze inside his apartment.

"What?"

"I have to get my soldiers ready." Sakura said,

"Ready? Ready for what?" Kakashi asked as wind began to collect around her.

"We are hitting another camp tonight." Sakura winked as the wind began to block her sight from him.

"Camp?" Kakashi muttered to himself, he quickly did the math and realized it was a reapers camp she was talking about. "Sakura!" He yelled but he was too late, the wind was broken and Sakura was gone.

Kakashi's front door flew open, Carver and Raiden stood in the door frame looking around the apartment. The two soldiers turned to see Kakashi give a lazy wave.

"She was here!" Raiden yelled walking into the apartment, "Where is she!?"

"Where is who?" Kakashi blinked.

"What's going on?" Naruto yawned rubbing his sleepy face. He wore his pajamas and was barefoot as he walked into Kakashi's apartment.

"Sakura was here." Carver informed him. Naruto perked up,

"Sakura is here!?"

"Not anymore." Carver sighed,

"What?" Naruto groaned, "Why was she here and not inside your apartment?" He wondered looking from Carver to Kakashi.

"Why was she here?" Raiden wondered looking at Kakashi's masked face. He awkwardly laughed, cursing Sakura she knew they would sence her chakra and come running. She left Kakashi to deal with these three by himself.

"I-I don't know what your talking about." Kakashi said, "Shouldn't you be getting ready for your training sessions?" Kakashi tried to switch the subjects.

"Your not getting out of this that easy." Carver crossed his arms over his chest.

----

Naruto was getting excited for Thanksgiving which was fast approaching since after a week of constantly bugging Kakashi had painfully agreed to do the cooking. Naruto knew Kakashi was an amazing cook, with great food on the line a room full of friends Naruto was pumped for the holiday! Naruto shoved his phone in his pocket after texting Sakura back, he had been getting advice from her about how to interact with Hinata. They had their second date tonight and he was a little nervous.

Naruto locked his front door; he heard another door close. Carver was locking up the apartment Tsunade had given to Sakura. Carver looked rough,

"Are you ok?" Naruto asked,

"Yeah, I am just not use to this new schedule." Carver yawned. Carver and Raiden decided to split up their sessions, Carver will take the morning group and Raiden will have the night session. They will switch every few days, Carver was walking to get to the arena with Naruto who was inside his class.

"What are we doing today?" Naruto wondered.

"You guys have gotten hand to hand combat down pretty good, but I want to work on your speed."

"Oh!" Naruto nodded, feeling excited to learn something new. He wanted to make Sakura proud of him when she returned to the leaf village, she had been gone for a while. Granted she did text back this time around and did a few video calls it wasn't the same as having her here. "Kakashi!" Naruto smiled, seeing the masked man walking down the street. He turned hearing his name,

"Good morning Naruto." Kakashi greeted as the two men reached him. "Off to training?"

"Yeah!" Naruto smiled,

"Where is Sasuke?" Kakashi wondered, normally Naruto and Sasuke were glued to each other at the hip.

"His training session is in the morning with Raiden." Naruto said, "Are you coming to watch us today!?"

"Tsunade asked me to join her." Kakashi said, closing his book seeing he wasn't getting anymore reading done.

"Granny is coming?" Naruto tilted his head.

"She wants to see how the progress is coming along." Carver answered, "A lot of other villages are pissed that Raiden and I are here training you guys."

"Really?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah." Carver sighed, "Gives me a fucking headache."

"Has Sakura talked to you about what she is going to do with the other villages?" Kakashi wondered as they made their way to the arena.

"Nope." Carver stretched his arms over his head. "No idea what she is-"

"Come on Choji-!" A familiar voice yelled out, stopping Carver from speaking. "I know you got a few more miles on those tires, let's go!" The three men looked at each other confusion clear as day on their faces as they bolted through the entrance of the arena, they skitted to a halt seeing her pink hair.

"Sakura!?" Naruto smiled finally seeing her. Kakashi's breath was knocked out of him as he took her in. Sakura was yelling at the leaf shinobi to run faster through the obstacle course that was set up.

"What the hell-!?" Carver yelled as Raiden waved to them.

"What?" He asked moving towards them.

"You could have texted me that she was here!"

"I'm sorry." Raiden laughed, "I forgot."

"You forgot!?" Naruto and Carver grilled into him.

"We were having fun." Raiden shrugged.

"Fun?" Carver raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah!" Raiden laughed, "Sakura seems to be in a good mood, it's weird but I am not complaining."

"Alright!" Kiba bounced from his left foot to his right having completed the course. "Let's go!" He said pointing towards Sakura who laughed at his confidence.

"You sure you want to do that?" She asked watching Kiba in front of her.

"Just no-" Kiba thought for a moment, "-no weapons and no hitting me in the face!" Kiba said reaching to touch his nose remembering her almost breaking the damn thing.

"Alright." Sakura shrugged, she unstrapped her weapons pouch on her leg and dropped her sword on the ground beside her. "Your world, I am just living in it." She said waiting for Kiba to make the first move. Naruto took a step forward watching as the two began to fight.

"Should she be doing that?" Raiden wondered,

"Huh?" Naruto turned.

"We are barely up and running." Carver answered, "No way in hell she is in any better condition than we are."

"Oh..." Naruto said, turning back to Kiba and Sakura. Kiba flew forward, ready to hit Sakura and knock her out but when he blinked, she vanished.

"Eh?" He asked looking around.

"I really hope these are for Akamaru." Sakura's voice came from behind him. Kiba spun around and blushed seeing Sakura was holding a bag of dog biscuits. Kiba quickly touched his pocket, he didn't even feel her remove them!

"Of-Of course they are!" Kiba yelled, running at Sakura she side stepped him quickly kicking his feet out from under him. Kiba fell face first in the dirt, he sat up holding his nose.

"We said no noses!" He whined.

"I did not hit you." Sakura defended trying to hide her laugh. Sakura reached out her hand, Kiba looked at it and slowly took it. "You're getting better." Sakura smiled, causing Kiba to blush.

"Re-Really?" Kiba asked feeling bashful.

"Yeah, you don't completely suck now." Sakura laughed at Kiba's red face.

"Yeah she's in a good mood." Carver said as he and Raiden turned to Kakashi,

"Wh-What?" Kakashi closed his eye smiling.

"I-I never sucked-" Kiba's eyes widened hearing Sakura whistle and Akamaru came running.

"Akamaru!?" Kiba blurted, Akamaru didn't listen to anyone except him! He turned to Sakura with wide eyes.

"Dogs love me." Sakura shrugged, Kakashi perked up hearing this. "Work on your footing, and lay off the dog biscuits!" Sakura instructed turning from Kiba as she tossed the bag of treats behind her. Kiba caught them with ease as Akamaru waited for one.

"Sakura!" Naruto smiled watching her walk towards them.

"Hey." She said,

"Your here!?" Naruto stated.

"Uh-huh." Sakura nodded, knowing where she was, Sasuke walked over joining the small group. "Looks like you guys are getting a vacation." Sakura said turning to Carver and Raiden.

"Er..." Raiden was confused.

"Really?" Carver perked up, "It's about damn time!" He laughed.

"Wait..." Raiden muttered, "...what kind of vacation?" Raiden's voice was slow and cautious. A large dome of air circled yards away from where they stood, everyone watched as it cracked apart like an egg.

"Ugh!" Raiden groaned seeing a waterfall village team resting inside it. "I don't like this prize!" He whined, "Can I get a different one?"

"Why is Hazel here?" Carver asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Because I need you two to come with me." Sakura answered.

"Why?" Carver asked as Raiden glared as the five manned team looked around the arena waiting for Sakura's command.

"Who is that?" Sasuke muttered to Raiden.

"That-" He answered, gesturing to a long-haired brunette who was glaring at all the people around her. "-Is Hazel Aamir, she is one of Sakura's captains."

"Oh." Naruto said watching the woman who had a stone expression of anger on her face move towards them. Naruto felt chills run over his skin,

"Why do I get the feeling you don't like her?" Sasuke wondered,

"Because we don't." Raiden whispered back.

"Why?" Naruto asked,

"Hazel is great and all, loyal to Sakura and is one of the soldiers who won't try to kill her, but she is all work no play."

"What does that mean?" Sasuke wondered,

"Commander." Hazel dropped to her knee to bow. "Your orders."

"You and your team are going to remain here." Sakura said, Carver and Raiden snapped their eyes to Sakura. Hazel looked up confused,

"Commander?" Hazel questioned, needing more information.

"Carver-" Sakura, "-give Hazel all your paperwork on the Leaf shinobi and their progress."

"Sakura-" Raiden stepped in, but Hazel was faster she was on her feet and had her hand wrapped around his throat, Raiden reacted just as fast holding a kunai to her neck.

"Calm down." Sakura called annoyed. "Hazel stand back."

"Yes Commander." Hazel quickly backed away keeping her glaring gaze on Raiden.

"You two are coming with me." Sakura said to the two men, "I need you two to get teams together that can be sent to the other villages to train their shinobi."

"But-"

"You two are my best trainers."

"But we want them to stay here!" Naruto spoke up,

"They are not being transferred." Sakura turned to him. "I am just borrowing them for now, your villages training will not be affected by this."

"It won't?" Sasuke asked,

"No, I brought my best fighter." Sakura turned to Hazel. "Carver." Sakura called his name. "Hurry up."

"But-"

"The faster you put teams together for the other villages, the faster you two will be back here." Sakura said, Kakashi kept his gaze on Sakura's face. She hadn't so much as glanced his way.

"What is he giving her?" Naruto asked,

"They have been keeping tabs on you." Sakura said, nodding over to Carver and Raiden who walked towards a folding table where they kept all their things for training.

"Tabs?" Sasuke said,

"They didn't tell you?" Sakura replied, "Hm." That was interesting... "They keep record of your progress, strengths, weakness and so on. They are going to give that to Hazel so her team can take over training."

"Why can't she just go?" Naruto muttered not happy Carver and Raiden are leaving.

"Because she is a fighter, not a trainer." Sakura said, turning to watch Carver hand Hazel a large box of files.

"So-" Naruto quickly said, watching the waterfall team vanish. "-Sakura...?"

"Yes?" Sakura asked,

"Thanksgiving is in a few days..."

"Is it?" She hadn't realized.

"Yeah-Yeah..." Naruto said rubbing the back of his neck, "Will Carver and Raiden be back in time?"

"That depends on them." Sakura said, "It could take them two days or two weeks."

"Oh." Naruto said, "Well...are you-well would you...will you come here for our Thanksgiving?"

"What?" Sakura asked,

"Kakashi is cooking!" Naruto smiled reaching out and grabbing Kakashi's arm, "So the food is going to be good, and a lot of people are getting together, and it will be a lot of fun...would you be interested in coming?" Sakura glanced over at Kakashi; Sakura hasn't celebrated a holiday since she was banished from this village.

"Sure." Sakura shrugged.

"Re-Really!?" Naruto beamed.

"Yeah." Sakura gave a small smile.

"Awesome!" Naruto jumped, "Dinner is at six!"

"I'll be there." Sakura nodded,

"So will we." Raiden smiled, resting his elbow on Carver's shoulder.

"Someone is confidant." Sakura commented.

"Like you said-" Carver smirked, "-we are the best."

"Mhm." Sakura hummed, turning from the leaf shinobi. "Hazel!" Sakura called,

"Yes Commander!?" The burnette jumped from the sky causing Naruto to jump.

"Go easy on them." Sakura instructed as wind began to wrap around Sakura, Carver and Raiden.

"Of course." Hazel nodded as the dome of air shattered, leaving an empty space. Naruto sighed sad to see them go, Sasuke watched the woman known as Hazel stand and turned to the leaf shinobi.

"Eh..." Sasuke said getting a bad feeling. "This isn't going to be good."