"A mission? The two of us?" Kakashi asked in shock. Tsunade should have known better, about the consequences she might be facing if she ever did send couples to a mission. It wasn't recommended, some would even say prohibited.

Tsunade nodded firmly, giving them a smile. "The feudal Lord requested for two strong ninjas but they mustn't be friends in any way. You two are strong but you're definitely not friends. Besides, I can't be sending pairs like Itsuko and Ibiki can I?" She scoffed,

"No." Itsuko replied almost immediately. How much of a disaster would it be if that were to happen. She had even ignored and avoided him. It would be bad, worst then before after their last conversation.

"It's a simple mission, nothing much to do unless an emergency occurs. I suggest you get going in a few hours?"

"It's been quite awhile since we've been on a mission with just the two of us hasn't it?" Kakashi sighed, just as they left the Hokage's office, tucking his hands in his pocket.

Itsuko rolled her eyes, shaking her head. She pulled his hand out of his pocket, slipping her fingers between his. "There's somewhere I want to bring you before we start this mission, we have time anyways."

-

"Koze, is Haro in town?" Itsuko glared, getting her guards up as soon as she eneterrd the area though she seemed rather relaxed. She was still holding Kakashi's hands and didn't intend on letting go.

"Itsuko! Who's this you have with you?" Koze blinked twice before he realised Itsuko was there. He was almost falling asleep before she inrerupted him.

"Kakashi Hatake, the copy cat ninja, my boyfriend. I'm sure you've heard of him?" Itsuko talked with not a slight bit of hesitation. Kakashi was shocked, Itsuko wasn't the type to go around sharing about her status.

"What a lucky man! You're in luck as well, Haro just returned from his mission." Koze answered simply, falling back asleep.

"I thought you didn't like sharing about yourself?" Kakashi whispered into her ears, waiting for an answer.

"Well, you probably won't make it out alive if you weren't my boyfriend. This place is the dark market, it's where the strongest criminals live. We generally avoid fights against each other because it'll end ho nowhere. Someone would probably end up cracking your head into half by accident. But they wouldnt dare since I claimed you as mine." Itsuko smiled, holding his hands tightly as they walked down the dark street.

Kakashi lifted his eyebrows, he never expected such a place to exist. To believe he thought the black market was bad enough.

"I'm looking for Haro, the person that attacked Konoha as part of his mission the other day." Itsuko said, Kakashi managed tk observe her walking along the crowded streets was more confident than she usually does back in Konoha. His only guess was that people were different here, your background and gossips don't matter here, all that mattered was power.

"What are you going to do?" Kakashi asked. He felt different walking down the street holding her hand. It wasn't something they could do in the open back in Konoha for the sake of each other. But here, no one was going to judge and no one was going to do anything to them.

"Nothing much actually, I just wanted to inform him about his employer's state and perhaps mock him a little." Itsuko chuckled, "here we are."

"Itsuko~, what are you doing here?" Haro laughed, sitting on the table with beer in his hands. "oooo~ is that your boyfriend over there?"

"Yes, surprising? Haru probably found out already though." Itsuko scoffed, moving closer to Kakashi such that his hand was on her waist and she held his other hand. It caught him by surprise but he acted along.

Haro growled at the name of his brother. "So, what are you doing here?" His voice deepened, Hus muscles tensed up.

"Don't get so tensed up. He's in a coma, I just figured you should know. Or maybe I just came to provoke you, I don't know." Itsuko glared, teleporting them away.

She sighed, moving in front of Kakashi, holding the two of his hands. "That's how this place works, money and insults. It's the pride of this place. Now, let's get going for our mission shall we?"

Kakashi couldn't resist smiling when he saw her smile. It was so beautiful and precious. His heart fluttered, he was a lucky man, he thought.

-

"Pretty easy mission for such an amount of money don't you think? How much more paranoid can these feudal lords get?" Itsuko laughed, holding Kakashi's hand.

Not much later, they saw a shiloette of a raven haired girl. Then, she disappeared. Letting go of Kakashi's hand, Itsuko made sure hers was free so she was ready to reflect any attacks. Kakashi's smile faded, replaced with a face of worry and frown. The both of them had already sensed the girl's chakra, there was no mistake. It was her, Ideki Nakara.

"Let's go." Kakashi whispered, his words fast and stuck together, desperately trying to get Itsuko away.

"Kakashi..." The girl spoke, her voice daring but soft. Itsuko gave Kakashi a glance but didn't have a slight thought on leaving.

"I said, let's go." Kakashi demanded, his voice stern, hiding a slight bit of worried and guilt. Itsuko knew exactly why he wanted to leave so desperately but didn't intend on leaving.

Itsuko returned Kakashi a stern look, reaching out to grab his hand which he tucked in his pocket. She held his hand tight, squeezing it as reassurance.

"So you've finally got what you wanted haven't you, Kakashi?" Ideki scoffed, her voice piercing and harsh. She glared, "leaving like that, like nothing ever existed."

Itsuko squeezed Kakashi's hand again, she knew he had a soft heart, he easily got hurt even if he doesn't show it.

"You're no different are you?" Itsuko snapped back. "You knew he'd feel hurt by your words and actions, you knew he'd feel guilty and you made use of it."

"That's right. So, what are you going to do? Send me back to the dungeons?" Ideki took a deep breath, replying confidently. She used to be terrified of Itsuko when she was still in the Anbu. But now that she's free from the Anbu, she felt no fear. Instead, she feel bravery, she wanted to get back at her.

"That's exactly what I was going to do." Itsuko smirked, performing simple handsigns that sent Ideki back to the dungeon she belonged in.

"How'd you know?" Kakashi spoke, his voice shaking. He never thought Itsuko would understand him so well, he never ever thought she even cared or knew what was going on to Anbus like him. He thought he never stood a chance with her.

"I know more than you think." Itsuko smiled, giving him a hug. "You overthink too much."