I have no rights to Naruto.

Enjoy.

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"Hokage-sama?"

Frowning at the timid tone of her assistant Tsunade looked up to see Shizune, the black hair Kunoichi standing right at the door. Quickly Tsunade took inventory, paperwork – meh but all her sake was in place even the bottle on her desk and no reports had come in and she had not won the lottery.

"What!"

Shizune cringed at the bark. "Morino-san and Sakura have returned."

"Finally." Tsunade sat up in her chair and leaned back. "Well?"

"They completed the mission but-" as Shizune gulped Tsunade's eyebrow ticked, "but they both requested that their apartments be put up for a six month rent probationary period."

Tsunade was floored, there was only one reason Shinobi ever put their homes on a six month rent probationary period. As Ibiki and Sakura entered her office, the blond took no notice of Shizune hurrying out as she stood and roared.

"You were supposed to come to a truce or kill each other, not send each other out of Konoha!"

Fuming, with air forcefully steaming from her nose Tsunade narrowed her eyes as Ibiki smirked and Sakura smiled before the pink haired Kunoichi spoke.

"We're not leaving Konoha, either of us Shishou."

Slightly mollified she sat, hands folded in front of her questioning. "Neither are of you are seeking a probationary period in another village?"

"No Hokage-sama." Ibiki answered and glancing at Sakura reached out and with the curl of her fingers to his in permission he took her hand in his as she also nodded to him and smiled. "We are moving in together."

Even Ibiki smiled at their Hokage who looked from one to another, frowning and eyebrows rising high as her eyes widened. "Together?"

"Yes Shishou!" Sakura declared happily, swinging her and Ibiki's hand. "We're going to give it six months to see how things go and make sure we're happy together."

Taking pity on his Hokage Ibiki reached out and dropped his report on her desk. "Here is the mission report, it was successful. With your permission we will take our leave."

Still processing Tsunade waved her hand. "Hai, hai."

"Thanks Shishou, we have to go apartment hunting." Sakura gave her a blinding smile and nearly dragged Ibiki from the office, as Tsunade once more looked around her office she picked up her sake sipping it before questioning aloud.

"Did that really happen?"

The ANBU on duty agreed in the affirmative, they themselves still getting over the news and being on duty unable to inform anyone else.

A week later, Konoha was still in a state of shock, the couple of Ibiki and Sakura seen often in public drawing eyes and whispers that neither cared for as they shopped to furnish their new apartment, their most important purchase to both a beautiful metal table for the hallway that held one single drawer. The drawer was chakra locked and contained Ibiki's collar for when it was needed.

Six months later Ibiki and Sakura bought the contract on their apartment outright and six months later were wed quietly by the Hokage with a select few in attendance. Though they never answered the questions about the collar Ibiki wore under his shirt or the chain that was around Sakura's wrist.

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Dia Duit,

This was always how I envisioned the end of this story and I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks again to Scififanta for double checking I had the relationship between Mistress and Slave correct.

Thanks so much to all who reviewed and apologies for not replying to them.

Hope you enjoyed.

Lots of Love,

The Rose and the Dagger x x x