Lightning In The Hidden Leaf

2 - Eyes On Her

Kakashi and Shikumaru didn't think that they would get Jiraiya away from the hot springs. When they finally did, his skin had shriveled up so much that it looked as if he had lost weight. But much like a child, his mind was away from the so called bathing beauties and on other things...

"Alright gentlemen," says Jiraiya, "now we conclude the night with a few drinks. Nothing bonds a team better than that!"

"And it has nothing to do with seeing this so called wandering gypsy?" says Kakashi.

Jiraiya bangs his fist on the table. "My team comes first. Always!"

"Are you sure this won't get back to the village that we were here?" says Shikumaru sliding into the booth after Kakashi.

"Don't worry about it. Tsunade is too preoccupied to even pay attention to us," says Jiraiya. "Besides, our mission is over. She only cares about what happens while we're on the clock."

"Uh, that's not entirely true," says Shikumaru. "Our wage depends on our skills, the rank of the mission, and how long we are gone."

"Don't lecture me, kid. I've been doing this a lot longer than you."

Kakashi places a hand on Shikumaru's shoulder. "I'll say one thing. We are not the first or only Shinobi to do this. But... it's not really Tsunade you're worried about, is it?"

"I'm not sure what you're getting at, Sensei, but yeah it is," he says with his lips contorted in a pout.

"Don't worry. If it eases your mind, you're not doing anything wrong. Besides, Temari won't know a thing about this," says Kakashi shifting his glance to Shikumaru.

"Woah, what's going on with you and Temari?" says Jiraiya. "That's the young girl from the Hidden Sand, is it not? Well, Shikumaru, if you need any advice with women, come to me any time," he says pointing to himself with his thumb.

Shikumaru covers his eyes with hands and pulls down on his face. "I didn't ask for this and I would appreciate it if we could drop it altogether."

"Seriously, kid. I have slept with more women than you can shake a stick at. I'm not just a master when it comes to Jitsu, I'll have you know."

Shikumaru grumbles and slumps down in his seat. This isn't a conversation he is comfortable having with his superiors. Choji? Yes. Hell, maybe even Sasuke. These two? No way in hell.

"Leave him alone, Master Jiraiya," says Kakashi.

What's up with this guy? He was the one who started this whole thing, thinks Shikumaru.

"Besides," says Kakashi looking over to another table. "Looks like you already garnered the attention of a couple of women already."

His two team mates look over and see two women glancing in their direction. It doesn't take long when Jiraiya makes his way over to their table, his arms around each of them as he says flirtatious things in their ears.

"His team comes first, huh?" says Shikumaru.

"That's Jiraiya but he is harmless," says Kakashi.

"Do you think he's okay over there?"

Kakashi looks at Jiraiya as he happily drinks and converses with the women. "I think he can manage just fine. One more drink and we'll call it a night? Whatever he chooses to do is up to himself."

"Sounds good to me."

Kakashi orders more sake and he turns around to make his way back to his table when he notices all eyes in the bar are looking at something in particular. Or rather, someone. When Kakashi locks eyes with what has garnered all the attention, he can understand completely why the room can't take their eyes away.

It's a woman, her energy so magnetic, even a blind man would stare.

The bar watches her as she takes off the shawl that covered her delicate frame which garners even more attention, including his own. Kakashi watches her as she smoothly walks to the counter and takes a drink that was already waiting for her. Then with an alluring smile on her round face, she makes her way to the center of the bar where she begins to dance. She places her hands on her neck and moves them up until they reach her dreaded hair, her head and hips sway in sync as if casting some spell.

She spots Kakashi and starts to approach him but before she can come closer to him, there are four, fix, then six men around her.

"Sorry, you missed your chance," she says, "but you can watch."

And he does watch her as does everyone else as she continues her rhythmic and hypnotic dance to the top of the table. It only takes seconds and the table and floor is filled with coins and bills. The spell that she put Kakashi under is broken when he notices Shikumaru making his way to the woman.

"Oh, no you don't!" he says taking Shikumaru by the collar of his shirt and dragging him away.

Kakashi looks back and Jiraiya has already emptied his wallet and the girls he was initially with are gone. He takes one last look at the woman before he exists.

She gives him a delicate wave as he leaves.