IT'S ALL FOR THE MISSION (Sasuke x Naruto)

Chapter 17

Deep in the woods, miles from the Akatsuki hideout, Kakashi's team hides beneath thick camo Yamato whips up using his Wood-Style jutsu. The leafy shelter blends so well, even a hawk would fly right past.

Shikamaru sprawls out on a branch, tossing a kunai up and down lazily. "This whole mission's turning into a drag," he mumbles, eyes half-lidded.

Ino sits cross-legged nearby, cleaning and wrapping medical supplies into her pouch. "You're always saying that. Try actually doing something for once."

Kakashi says, flipping through Icha Icha Tactics. "Relax, both of you. Yamato's got eyes on everything."

Yamato adjusts the sealing tags along the perimeter and glances back, brow twitching. "I swear, one day you'll take this seriously, Kakashi-senpai."

Kakashi gives a one-eyed smile without looking up from his book. "When the day calls for it."

Itachi sits quietly on a stump near the edge of the camo barrier.  His eyes are open, calm, but unreadable like no one can tell if he's watching or just lost in thought.

A soft poof breaks the quiet. Pakkun appears beside Kakashi, the small pug looking up with a serious expression.

"Message from Lady Tsunade," Pakkun says, holding out a scroll.

____________________

Tsunami and Naruto are still getting ready, and in the meantime, Sasuke sits on the sofa, listening to Tazuna ramble yet again about festival customs while Inari whines about playing.

Sasuke isn't in the mood for any of it. His thoughts keep circling back to earlier, on the way Naruto had laughed through her tears. On the possibility that she cried because of him. Was it because I'm a bad kisser? Or worse... does she not like me that way at all?

The thought alone made him depressed.

"You've been sulking all evening," the old man says, taking a sip of tea.

Sasuke breaks out of it. Tazuna's looking at him with an annoyingly smug expression. "Why don't you go check on your wife?"

Sasuke hisses. "She's not—okay, I'll just—"

"Oh, just go already," Tazuna waves him off.

Sasuke sighs and stands, if only to escape this conversation. He barely takes a few steps toward the hallway before stopping dead in his tracks.

There she is.

Naruto comes down the stairs, adjusting the folds of her orange kimono. Her blue eyes sparkle, despite the awkward way she fidgets. Her golden hair is tied into a messy bun, with a few loose strands swaying softly near her cheeks. She looks—different from the dobe he knew. 

He doesn't even realize he was gawking until Tsunami, standing beside her, turns to him with a smile.

"She's beautiful, right, Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke's mouth goes dry. His voice betrays him before his Uchiha pride can stop it. "...Yeah."

Naruto blushes at hearing him, her eyes darting away as pink creeps across her cheeks. Then she catches sight of him.

Sasuke stood in a midnight blue yukata, a black sash tied neatly around his waist. The simple outfit only makes him look even more handsome.

"H-Hmm... thanks," she mumbles. "Anyway, we're late. Let's get going."

She brushes past him, trying to shake off the flustered moment. You—you—you look go-good too, she thinks miserably. Why can't I just say it out loud?