OK so this is a half sequel to "Shikamaru's Discovery". After this I'll either focus my attention on the younger Sand sibling or I'll go back straight to my TemaXShika and NaruXHina storylines. Oh and thanks to everybody who reads and reviews, it really helps.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Right outside the Kazekage's building two of the sand siblings argued…

"Kankurou, I'm really not in the mood for your interrogation. I don't understand why you're so obsessed pointing out that I arrived a couple days later from what I estimated, big deal."

''Temari, it's just that you're never late, I just find it suspicious. Even Gaara asked me about your whereabouts and what could I tell him? Nothing, Temari, nothing. If you don't let me know what's going on and he gets pissed at you you're screwed cuz he's the Kazekage now." The kunnoichi shrugged her shoulders with indifference and began walking away. "I hope you're not getting involved with a guy, for you'd be signing his death sentence." the girl turned back and faced her brother's concerned stare.

"Let me inform you, the only person who has jurisdiction over my affairs turns out to be me and just me. If you have any problems with that then go sit in a corner and meditate why the hell you're being so nosy in your older sister's PRIVATE life. And if my little brother Gaara decides he wants to butt in too, I'll give him a piece of my mind. Geez, I don't even ask you about your private life, take the hint." With that the girl turned around and left. He didn't know if he was feeling jealous or angry or concerned.

"I wish she could understand that Gaara and I are simply on the lookout for the jerks that could try to take advantage of her. We know how other men are looking at her, and maybe she's not aware of it so we have to protect her from the predators. But no, she gets all pissed at me thinking I'm being overprotective... and she did arrive late from the mission... maybe something happened already. If I find out someone tried to harm her... he's so dead, I don't care if I have to throw my life away fighting a Kage for the sake of my sister's honor. I wish she could understand that..."

Kankurou's thoughts were interrupted by two passing nins talking about how beautiful Temari was turning out. Their faces bleached when they realized that the girl's brother was nearby staring, a hand reaching kunai. "Kankurou, go to my office" Gaara ordered dryly from the balcony above them. "Don't act rashly, we both want to ward flies off, but wreaking havoc will only hurt her. I told you before to be subtle, but you're snapping." So young yet so strict and determined, thought the older brother amused while looking around the office.

"I don't have to explain why, but I have a mission for you relatively far from here. Nothing you can't handle, you have to play bait to a group of rogue nin in the Rain Country. We have information that their base is inside the Sacred Dragon Waterfall. You are going to pretend to be a prince in a carriage and wait for them to try and rob you, then eliminate them. That is all, I expect you to leave this evening, as there is a team of sand shinobi already waiting for you at that country's border."

"You're a lucky one: Gaara is giving a mission that suits your theatre passion perfectly." Kankurou turned around to see his sister grinning as if they hadn't quarreled. "Temari I'm sorry that I snapped before..." He felt somewhat guilty of the tone he had used. "Nah, little bro is sending you away so I'll have plenty of time to forgive you... you go and have fun. And dressed as a Prince? Just imagine all the ladies swooning for you!!" To the sibling's surprise Gaara smiled amused at the idea.

"Dressed as a Prince, what a joke" mused Kankurou as he left the hidden village. When he reached the Rain Country's border he found the sand nin already wearing "royal" attire, and a luxurious six horse carriage prepared for him. Inside he found clothes fit for a king and at one of his comrade's insistence he washed off his trademark makeup. He descended the carriage impressively dressed and the only kunnoichi in the group gasped in surprise. There really was NO WAY for anybody to recognize the puppet master in such a disguise, he looked like a kami.

"What did you tell the people you've seen so far?" he asked, wondering if no one had found out the carriage had been empty. "Kankurou-sama, we followed the Kazekage's instructions to the letter. The townspeople were told that in this carriage was a Prince, a Feudal Lord's son, and this was his idea of a discrete visit to a princess in the Rain Country. For safety and privacy he had chosen to remain inside at all times. We believe the bait was successfully cast, and soon enough our targets will hear the rumors." Smiling the puppet master re-entered the carriage and the journey began.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the same time, Tsunade-sama was opening a letter from a feudal lord in a victimized village near the Sacred Dragons Waterfall. The Hokage smiled at the amount offered for the mission and had Shizune tell her if they had any available shinobi. "Only the two girls, Sakura and Ino. They're training in the library, want me to get them?" 'Only those two…' thought Tsunade concerned, 'well I'll send one on reconnaissance first and see if I have to send the other one afterwards or forget the reward.' "No Shizune, leave Sakura in her tasks and just get me Ino."

"Remember the mission you had some time ago playing a double?" Ino shuddered at the flashback of the failed mission impersonating a princess for the sake of a marriage proposal. "Well this time you'll be impersonating a rich feudal lord's princess-like daughter. It should be nothing outside your rank. You're going to travel to the Rain Country to an area that is being ravaged by rogue nin. You're mission is just reconnaissance, just stay quiet and pretty by your 'daddy's' side and try to learn what you can. Of course protect our client and yourself if you have to, but I don't want you to engage in battle with the looters, understood?"

The blonde kunnoichi nodded, feeling a bit weird pretending to be a Feudal Lord's daughter, but it was a mission. 'Anyways I have to show Forehead Girl that I can do solo missions by myself and succeed. It's perfect, combining mental and body mind switching techniques plus the killer looks; Ino, I feel this mission is going to be a piece of cake.' With that the girl rushed home and made preparations to leave before nightfall.

When she reached the feudal lord's castle in the morning she found out that her mission was going to be harder that she expected. Despite the knowledge that there were rogue nin around, the feudal lord wanted to celebrate his only daughter's birthday with a temple inauguration ceremony. However, the problem wasn't exactly the activity, but the present... the temple would host a gold statue of the princess' favorite kami Amateratsu (sun goddess). And that's where Ino would have to parade as bait, just in case someone targeted the girl and her present.

To make matters worse, she would have to receive all the lords, princes, rich merchants, and variety of suitors that would be visiting for the occasion. The feudal lord suspected that one of them could be a rogue ninja in disguise and discovering if that were the case would also be part of her mission. As he kept adding detailed tasks, she began wishing that she would rather be in the library studying with her annoying pink-haired friend.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maybe I'm getting addicted to making 3-Shots… it's a good speed because by the time you're on the second chapter you know it's almost over, but it's refreshing cuz you'll find out soon what finally happens and don't have to wait 17 more chapters… well, that's me anyways because I'm tight on time, so I like fast-paced short stories that say just enough to send your imagination on a run. But hey I want to know what YOU think… I'm all ears, ahem, eyes…