It was morning before you knew it. Kakashi had woken you before the sunrise to have one last round of mind blowing sex before he sneaks back to his room.

After that you had gotten yourself changed and packed, ready for another day of travel. The rest of the morning was spent with your band of ninjas reviewing combat strategy. Despite their clash of personalities everyone was onboard this time and each contributed their own type of skill to the group. When it came down to business this group out ranks most. However, the minute things get personal it all falls apart. Let's just hope everyone can keep a level head during the battles to come.

The day was spent tracking through washed out trails and roads. There were points in which the roads were too treacherous to cross over by foot; everyone had to resort to tree jumping just to make it to the next village. There was no time to sit and have that chat Kakashi wanted to have. And by the time you got to Yugakure in the land of hot water you were exhausted.

Kakashi had suggested taking a dip in the hot springs would be a good idea to rest everyone's muscles. As the land of hot water is famous for their perfectly mineralized steaming springs and expensive spa treatments.

Secretly kakashi had paid for you and Sakura to have facials and massages before entering the pools. Which Sakura thought was a bit strange at first, but once she settled down in the massage chair her suspicions melted away.

Meanwhile the boys are sitting in the hot springs on their side of the resort chatting amongst themselves, getting more acquainted.

"Alright, I wanna know, who is the hottest kunoichi in hidden leaf and what is her name?" Shiro asks, he is leaned up agains a mineral rock, arms stretched out showing off his snake like scales wrapped around his rippling torso.

"Ahhh, that would be Hana." Konohamaru replies, scoffing at that ridiculous question.

Shiro rolls his eyes.

"Aside from my sister . I need a girl, I get into waaay too much trouble these days..."

Konohamaru laughs.

Kakashi smiles, reflecting on how Hana has changed that part of his life.

"You wanna girl that keeps you in check Huh?"

"Yeah...but she also needs to be hot...and sassy." Shiro replies.

Kakashi knows exactly who he's talking about. It was obvious...

"Is that your type , Shiro?" Shikamaru asks.

He smiles thinking about it.

"Yeah....a girl with a sharp tongue is a girl who is smart. I can't stand a woman who just follows along quietly. You might as well buy a dog, it would be the same thing."

Kakashi huffs at his brash analogy.

Shiro shrugs at him.

"It's true!"

"Well with that attitude good luck finding any woman." Konohamaru scowls. "All women are beautiful, Shiro."

"Psssshhh. Spoken like a true virgin." He replies.

And Kakashi interjects.

"Actually I would have to agree with Konohamaru on that. All women have their own beauty. Even the wild ones."

Shiro bursts out laughing.

"The wild ones are the hottest."

Kakashi thinks on it, comparing Hana to a wild cat....incomparable to any other woman out there...definitely the hottest....

"I try to stay away from the wild ones." Konohamaru states.

And Shiro just has to push things further with Konohamaru, laughing all the way he replies.

"You know Neko is as wild as they come, right?...I mean once she changes form that is."

Konohamaru glares at him.

"That's not her fault! And she isn't as crazy as you make her seem."

"Oh yes she is. You haven't seen her in full Sunaneko form." Shiro leans his head back replaying the time he had witnessed it. He was the only one that survived that day but only because he had buried himself into the ground using earth jutsu. She had lost his scent and carried on with her killing spree and if not for Temujin finding her days later and restoring her mind, she would still be the Sunaneko on a killing rampage.

"What do you mean full form? I believe I have witnessed it once and stopped her." Kakashi questions.

Shiro shakes his head.

"Yeah you said that before, but I don't believe it. There is no way you could have stopped her. No one but Temujin was able to bring her mind back to this reality. Once she has a taste of blood in that form she is gone."

That reminds him of the time she turned into a panther.

"Have you seen her panther form?"

Shiro pauses and looks over at Kakashi confused.

"Panther form?"

Kakashi nods.

"She had taken the form of a panther at one of our galas. At the time she was completely herself, aside from changing form. With the use of chakra balance and energy draws we were able to bring her body back to normal."

"Shit..." Shiro curses.

"Is that bad?...I mean it is obviously bad... how bad would be the right question..." Shikamaru asks.

Shiro sighs.

"There is only one other gelel soldier who has changed form like that. She goes by the name "little bird" or Chisai Tori. And now, she's gone batshit crazy."

Kakashi becomes slightly defensive over that.

"Hana is of very sound mind, Shiro. Even in that form she knew exactly what was going on."

"I know, but could you imagine if the Sunaneko and her panther form became one? Turning animal form heightens everything by ten, then add in her Kekkei Genkai...she may be as strong as Jigen was."

Konohamaru gasps.

"There's no way she would let herself lose control like that...she's the sweetest girl in the world.."

Shiro shakes his head.

"You don't know her like I do. Her cohort is too strong for her, even with a Kekkei genkai like that she can be overpowered."

Kakashi grows quiet listening, taking all of this information in. Something he will need to analyze later and come up with a way to stop her from losing control before it gets to that point.

"Man that's heavy." Shikamaru huffs. He runs a wet hand through his hair slicking it back. "The only thing we can do is stop Hana from getting to that point before it happens."

"You're right, Shikamaru ." Kakashi replies. "Although I still believe I can help her control it when it happens...."

"I like the commitment, Kakashi. But I don't think it's possible. There is no real guide to a gelel stone. We know nothing about changing forms like that. I mean...we have only scratched the surface on what our stones are capable of. We barely have an understanding of it." Shiro replies.

"Then that is proof that beliefs can be changed and new discoveries can be made. From what I have seen, your theories are correct but they aren't as restricted as you think." Kakashi says.

Shiro sits for a minute pondering over his beliefs.

"You may be right, brother. But for now Shikamaru's solution would be the best. Preventing Neko from getting to the point of losing control would be in everyone's best interest."

"And here we are wandering into an S class mission. Good thing you can stop her, Kakashi." Konohamaru says sadly.

"Well...only to a point, Kono. But I have a plan for the mission." Kakashi says. "She is not going to engage in any combat."

Everyone's eyes flick up to Kakashi.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" Shiro asks doubtfully.

"We will use black op stealth techniques, no one will know what hit them until it is too late...so, once we arrive at our destination we will utilize the terrain to take them out from a distance." Kakashi explains.

"Rubble and Ruin protocol?" Shikamaru asks.

Kakashi nods.

"That would be the best protocol option. Especially for the terrain. It is essentially a team of five shinobi spread out, north, south, east, and west. The fifth shinobi takes a distraction role, rotating around the target. Hana will stay by my side for this one and basically sit it out. It has a ninety percent success rate. With a ten percent chance of engaging in close combat."

Shiro strokes his chin envisioning it.

"Sounds like a good plan. If all else fails we ambush them while they're distracted."

"That is the last resort." Kakashi says.

"Right."

Everyone seems content with the plan as they ponder over it.

...on the other side of the spring resort, Hana and Sakura have finished their facials and are settled into a deep spring soaking up the relaxation.

"This is great." Sakura says and sighs, sinking deeper into the water.

"Sure is." You reply, closing your eyes at the feeling of the hot water prickling your skin.

"You know, I really didn't want to come on this mission. But now I'm sort of glad I did." Sakura confesses.

You glance over to her.

"I didn't either...What made you not want to come?"

"I'm tired of running missions. I just want to be with my family. But, I know this mission is crucial and being the highest ranking medical-nin, it would be a mistake not to come."

"You think these rogue ninja are stronger than we're assuming?" You ask.

She looks over at you with a pain stricken look and shakes her head.

"No, Hana. I'm not worried about them."

You furrow your brows.

"Then who are you worried about?"

Her expression turns cold at this moment.

"You." She replies, making your heart hurt.

Your eyes begin to water as you explain.

"I'm not going to hurt anyone, Sakura."

She swallows sadly.

"I know you don't want to, but if you lose control...we don't know what could happen. I'm just thankful Kakashi is here with us. And don't take what I just said as a jab at our friendship. I just love who you are...but what you are scares me..."

Doesn't that comment stab you in the gut. Is this how everyone thinks of you? Does Kakashi feel the same way? Gods...there is so much you hate about yourself....

"I'm sorry, Sakura."

"It's not your fault. It is just what has been done to you....can I ask you something personal?" She comes to sit closer to you.

You barely respond with a nod.

She takes a deep breath.

"I'm a little nervous to bring this up...but it is getting more and more obvious....Are you in love with Kakashi?"

And your face goes white. Is it really that obvious? Your mind begins to spiral at whether you should answer that question honestly or not. You look at Sakura, noticing an all knowing glint in her eyes. She knows the truth already, yet she wants confirmation.

"What made it obvious?" You ask.

Her eyes flick down to the gold pendant dangling around your neck.

"That." She says and points to it.

You then realize you had forgotten to take it off and hide it in your pocket before getting into the pools.

You curse out loud and clutch onto it.

"Not only that, but Kakashi's behavior. He hasn't been himself since your personal swimming lesson. I guess my bikini did the trick." She laughs.

You manage to smile back at her but it quickly fades.

"Are you going to tell everyone?"

Her eyes widen.

"No! I would never do that. Kakashi means a lot to me. I would never interfere with his heart like that. He's never been so happy, so generous, and caring. You've changed him."

That part of this conversation makes you happy, however you still feel like a burden to everyone. The last thing you have ever wanted is to be feared by your friends.

"I have never met a man like him before....I'm not that easy to be around, I know that. But he seems to manage me just fine." You reply.

She laughs.

"That's because he is exactly like you. You two are pretty much the same person. I have even heard you finish each other's sentences....but Hana." She places a gentle hand on yours. "Promise me you'll take care of him. He really needs someone these days...."

"Of course. He is everything to me." You assure her.

"I know you're young...and you still have so much of your life ahead of you...It would be a shame if...." She begins and you stop her right there.

"Look, I don't want to start thinking too far ahead and worrying about whether or not Kakashi and I are a good fit. Or if things will work out. We have enough to worry about right now. My control is the issue...I know that. And I am trying...god I am trying..." tears begin to swell in your eyes as you think of all the shit you have to fix before you can be anything more to Kakashi.

"It's ok, Hana. I get it. Your power is....." She replies, sympathetically. But you are beyond sympathy now. You interrupt her again.

"No you don't get it! You have no idea what it is like to be terrified of yourself. I have never been able to trust myself around anyone! I know how serious this is. It is taking all of me to try and figure it out and I just happened to find happiness through my fucked up chaos and I will not give it up for anything!..." You both grow quiet at that.

"....Let's just focus on the mission and getting this stone under control. Kakashi and I are none of anyone else's business."

Sakura nods and looks away.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. Just know that we are all on board with figuring this shit out. I won't give up on you ok?"

You sigh. Accepting her apology.

"Thank you. Can we relax now? I doubt we will be sitting in hot springs like this again, so let's try to enjoy it."

She smiles and leans her head back against the side of the pool.

"Deal."

And you follow her, letting the water wash away all the turmoil you are feeling.

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