A/N: I figured, enough time has passed that I can rework on some of, if not all, of my stories, and I figured this would be the first as it's my most favorite.

Mission Impossible: Housewife

By KawaiPanda

Chapter One: Decisions, Decisions

A Gaara and Ino love story

Hell came for me on the hottest day of the year. I was nineteen and in my prime as a shinobi. Because of the death of Asuma-sensei, I had learned the hard way that I could only become a strong and capable kunoichi able to protect those that I loved by forgetting my girly-girl ways and throwing myself into training. I had to be strong to keep from what happened to sensei…. well, happen again.

For weeks after his death, I couldn't find it in myself to care. I didn't care about my friends, my family, anything. I just stayed in my room, a darkness had draped itself over my shoulders and refused to lift. While the world around me continued, I was stuck in a rut unable to force myself to function. How could the world keep going on with Asuma gone?

I could have prevented it! If only I hadn't been such a child and focused more.

Sakura was the one who decided to wake me up—the girl whom I strived to beat over all others—whom I'd lost as a friend because of an infatuation with a boy oh so many years ago, decided it was time for me to stop feeling so damned sorry for myself. Sakura, not Shikamaru or Choji... thought it was quite understandable why it hadn't been them. Sakura, my best friend.

"Ino," I flinched at the suddenness of my father's voice—even though his voice was soft and low—it was as if any timbre too high could break me, shatter my body into a million pieces. I was, of course, startled. The only sounds I was used to had been my father's pacing, back and forth across the hall in front of my bedroom door and the ticking of the clock hanging on my wall, a constant reminder of how time would carry on for me–for the world–but it wouldn't for Asuma.

Like always, I sat with my back to the wall, rocking slowly, back and forth, back and forth.

"..."

"Ino-dear, someone is here to see you," his voice tore at me, after all, I was the cause of the heartbreak he was sure to be feeling. His little girl unable to get over a death. How fucking pathetic. He must be ashamed. What would his comrades think of his little girl, a ninja in her own right, unable to move on? Didn't she know that he was just another death? Another name to write on that damned memorial stone.

"..." he sighed, giving into defeat like every other time he waited for a response from me. A response he wouldn't get.

"Go on in Sakura." The name caused my rocking rhythm to falter momentarily, but I resumed nonetheless as the door to my room creaked open, letting a sliver of light stream into the dark room and in stepped the pinkett who gently closed the door shut behind her. She slowly made her way to me, waiting for her eyes to adjust before she could find me, curled up in my ball, and knelt in front of me, saying nothing for the longest time. I stared blankly back at her, wondering what she could possibly want from me. After what seemed like an eternity, Sakura stood back up and walked into my bathroom, flicking on the light. I was temporarily blinded, as my position had me right in front of the opening.

After my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw her standing in front of me once more, holding out her hand to me. I stared at the gloved appendage before slowly placing my hand in hers and she pulled me up. My legs wobbled from nonuse, but she slipped her arm around my waist and my arm around her shoulder, basically hauling me into the bathroom without any effort.

Sakura brought me my senses, and ever since, I'd been grateful to her. No longer was Sasuke–or anyone–going to keep us apart. We've been good friends, and I've always had someone I could talk to since that day. It was a pity that it took Asuma's death to occur before we were brought back together.

Sakura visited me every single day after her shifts at the hospital and after only a week of her interventions, I went back to work at the flower shop. A month later I was taking missions again, D-ranked, but missions nonetheless.

And then the war happened. The one between Madara and the Shinobi Nations. I was forced to fight Asuma-sensei alongside my old teammates. The war was long and bitter, but we all pulled through, the Five Nations fighting alongside one another. And after we won—because with Naruto on our side how could we lose?—there was peace.

Shikamaru and Choji had also been affected by Asuma's death.

Shikamaru started smoking and no longer lazed around and I later learned that Temari of the Sand became his comforter. They had been dating exclusively for about six months, privately of course, before I ran into Shikamaru again, not that either of us were eager to be in one another company, not since our parents blotched attempt to get us together and unite our families.

Choji had become the leader of his clan and was engaged to Ayame, the daughter of the ramen stand owner. They were due to be married soon, and I'd gotten my invite not long after it was announced, being the former teammate of the groom meant I was, of course, going to be invited.

Asuma's death split us apart, our paths spiraling away from one another. Very rarely were we ever teamed up again because Shikamaru was a diplomat to Suna, gone every couple of weeks back and forth, while Choji had a lot clan business to attend to. I myself had the flower shop and training.

Because I was much weaker than I thought, and I refused to be saved again, I sought out help from any who would give it to me. Gai was one of the first that I'd approached. He was not only the fastest man I knew, other than Rock Lee, but be was also the best as taijutsu, and I needed to improve both if I was ever going to be the ninja I wanted to be–that I had to be!

For a year, I focused almost solely on my speed, and taijutsu—they were the most lacking. The other things I practiced on were my clan's techniques and some medical jutsu to keep from getting rusty at it. After greatly improving those to where I was satisfied, I worked on my flexibility and endurance.

By this time, I had caught the eye of Ibiki, though I'm sure my father had a hand in his coming to me so soon, who asked if I'd like to study under him and follow in the path of the interrogator. I was only eighteen when I became his right hand man. I held my own interrogations and answered to Ibiki, and the Hokage, but mainly Ibiki.

However, all of this was about to come to an end due to a single vote. A decision that would change my world and turn it inside out. Something that was completely out of my control because not only did it happen in another country, but that it was made by higher ups, determined to have their way.

Hell came for me on the hottest day of the year. I was nineteen and in my prime as a shinobi.

"You almost had me there, pig." Sakura grinned as she plopped down onto the ground gracelessly, drawing on what little chakra she had left to heal any of the injuries I'd given her.

"Don't worry, next time, your ass is grass, forehead," I replied with a smirk. I was almost caught up to her. While we both had our strengths and weaknesses, I'd closed the gap between us, having more of a…. reservoir of jutsu and techniques to choose from while hers were more focused on healing.

"Yeah, we'll see-"

Before she could finish her sentence, a chunin appeared, cutting in with, "Yamanaka-san. Lady Hokage wishes your presence."

He left before I could ask what for, causing me to sigh. Standing, I grinned, "Well, looks like we won't be getting lunch today."

"Next time," she replied, finishing up her healing. I nodded, and started jogging away, she called, "Bye Ino-pig! See you Friday! And don't think this gets you out of paying!" I had to shake my head with a giggle. I knew she would probably forget by the time Friday rolled around.

It didn't take long for me to reach the tower and make my way up to Tsunade's office. I knocked on the door but I didn't wait to be called in because if she needed me then I wasn't going to waste my time waiting for her to wake up from one of her drunken stupors, which was happening a lot more often lately. I wasn't sure if it was because she was getting depressed about Jiraya's passing, because it wasn't hard to figure out that she had loved him and regretted not giving him the chance he deserved.

She was aging and starting to get lonely. It was beginning to show too, and I knew she would be passing the seat over to Naruto soon.

"Tsunade-sama, you called for me?" I was pleasantly surprised and a little suspicious when I saw that she was alert and even looking over some paperwork when I walked inside.

"Ah, Ino, you came faster than I'd expected." She put aside the paperwork, looking me over with a lifted brow. Since I'd come directly from my sparring session, of course I was going to be a mess.

"You have a mission for me?" I asked impatiently. I could be on my way home right now. A hot shower was just calling my name.

"Yes, yes I do." She seemed to be examining me thoroughly, her eyes shifted as she looked me up and down. I was getting a bit creeped out at how her eyes lingered on specific bits of me, like my hips and chest. After what seemed like a long time, I coughed to bring her back to attention before she sighed, leaning forward, her elbows on her desk, chin balancing on top of her intertwined fingers. Just as I was about to ask her what the hell was going on, she asked, "Ino, how would you like to marry the Kazekage?"

For a second there, it felt as if the world had stopped spinning on its axis.

I stiffened. Straightening my posture, I crossed my arms in front of the older blond and lifted an eyebrow at her.

"Excuse me?" I asked, frowning at her. "Is this some kind of joke?"

"I assure you Ino that this is no joke. This matter is of high importance and no laughing matter." The tone of her voice informed me that, indeed this wasn't a joke and I didn't know why I felt like running away.

"What exactly is going on?" I knew that it wasn't as something as simple as him wanting a bride. There had to be more to it. There always was. He wouldn't want me. He couldn't. After all, he could just marry some woman from his own village but instead he was looking for a leaf ninja? Something was going on.

"I received this scroll from the Kazekage three days ago. According to his message, the Suna Council has decided that it is time for Gaara-sama to settle down."

"Or in other words, they want him to have children so his sand control abilities aren't lost," I replied bluntly, sighing. Damned Council members. For some odd reason, they were all the same. Meddlesome.

"Basically."

"May I?" I asked, referring to the scroll she waved at me moments ago. She nodded, and handed me the scroll. I read it once and then reread it again to make sure my eyes were not fooling me.

Looking up from the scroll, I sighed. "Why me... or rather, why at all?"

"According the Kazekage, the Suna Council has decided that his bride will be a kunoichi so not only will any offspring be strong, they can solidify their bond with us. I believe that you would be the best candidate because you are one of the strongest young women in Konoha and you're also not in a relationship. Hinata Hyuuga is out of the question because of her kekkei genkai. Sakura is the best medic we have, save for myself and Shizune and we cannot lose either to a foreign nation. That would leave only you and Tenten, but because of her relationship with Neji Hyuuga, it comes down to you." Her reasoning did make a lot of sense, but I still hated the fact that it fell to me.

I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck, contemplating.

Being a kunoichi was a pain in the ass sometimes, but I've learned the hard way that I would have to make some sacrifices for my home. And apparently, this would be one of them.

"Will you need time to contemplate this decision?"

"Yes..." This isn't something I wanted to rush into. I was being asked to marry a man I knew virtually nothing about. I mean, I knew that he used to contain Shukaku, and that he was the younger brother of Temari and Kankuro but that was about all I really knew.

She nodded her consent. "Alright. I need your answer by noon tomorrow regarding your decision."

"Can I not have a longer time to think about it?"

"I'm sorry Ino, but time is of the essence." That was disappointing, but I knew that I wouldn't be given much time to decide. And I knew deep down I would accept. I had no reason not to. But the time I asked for would give me more time to get used to the idea.

"Alright." I turned and started for the door. My hand just gripping the doorknob when she called to me.

"And Ino?"

"Yes Tsunade-sama?" I glanced at her over my shoulder.

"You do not need to feel obligated to do this. I know that marriage is no easy thing to decide and seeing as how this is a political marriage that would solidify the bond between Suna and Konoha, it is not something you can just back out of at the last minute. If you say yes tomorrow, know that you will have to go through with the wedding or you might very well cause a war between our nations."

"Yes ma'am." I opened the door and walked out, gently closing the door behind me.