A/N: This story is what I'd call a whim… I wanted to focus just a bit more on Neji. However I also wanted to write more about Ino. There will be moments of both here…mostly apart, sometimes together. Needless to say there's a fair bit of Tsunade...

Think of this story this way: Neji's age 21, Ino's 20. Hopefully that'll give you a rough idea about the rest.

Disclaimer: Once upon a time there was a man called Masashi Kishimoto, he created the beloved characters of the manga known as Naruto. The not-so-wicked but ever so weird fan fiction writer PenumbraChey borrowed some of those characters to write some stories. Luckily her fairy godmother reminded her to put in a disclaimer. Thus they all lived happily ever after.

When the request from the Hokage had come that afternoon, it had puzzled Neji. Why did it say he didn't have to show up until 7:00 that evening? It couldn't have been a very urgent mission requiring a jonin. Maybe she was finally going to assign him his own team of genin to work with. It was around that time of year wasn't it? Yes, that would be perfect as far as timing went.

Eight days ago, he and Tenten had had a huge public argument, and had officially broken up. He had grown tired of how possessive she had become. He had never given her any indication that they were going anywhere beyond where their relationship had been these last few years. Maybe it was just the amount of time they had been together that made her assume that he was 'irrevocably' her property. Furthermore, it annoyed him that she dared publicly present herself as the expert on 'all things Neji'. It made him feel like he'd been dating a stalker. He had no room to breathe anymore without her inhaling what he'd just exhaled. Too close for comfort.

She did have her good points however; she was an amazingly dedicated training partner. Tenten would fight by your side through pretty much anything, and certainly had so far. Her talent for encouragement was excellent too, she had in the past helped him to push beyond any limit he previous had thought he had. 'Now if only she didn't get that pitchy high voice when she showed her support,' the brown haired jonin flinched when he thought about it.

'Yes, it is definitely time for a team of my own.' he thought to himself. He knew if he had to keep working around Tenten he feared things might get even worse. 'One of us would be bound to screw up due to the distraction…more likely her of course, but in spite of everything I don't think she deserves that.'

When he finally arrived at the Hokage's residence, he noticed there were already a moderate number of arrivals there. 'It looks like it might just be team assignment night after all.' Then he looked over the crowd more carefully and realized that not all the people there were jonin. Over there was Kiba, and there Ino waiting against a wall. There were a few people he was positive didn't even make it past genin level. 'What's going on?'

Ino was looking around at the crowd that was gathering. 'The guys look a who's who of my past conquests…Kiba, Kotetsu, Izumo, Shino…I wonder what the Hokage wants?' Then something about the previous thought nagged at the back of her mind. All the guys are single…what about the girls. Sure enough, she couldn't see anyone she knew was married or engaged in the crowd. The realization made her mind reel, was this some kind of singles night the Hokage was setting up?

"Yo." Shikamaru walked up, "Did you notice that this is one weird collection of people?"

"Did you notice they're all single?" The blond Kunoichi saw Neji across the way. Of her past conquests he was in her top three to revisit out of idle curiosity…especially since Tenten was out of the picture for now, she almost started to smile. Then she saw Sai, 'Forget it, this is getting worse by the minute…all we need is…'

"Hey guys, any idea what's going on?"

"Hi Chouji." Ino looked up at him, her disappointment showing clearly on her face. "My theory is that this is Konoha singles night. Gods, why would Godaime-sama arrange for something like this?"

"I know, these set-ups can be such a bother." Shikamaru looked at the ceiling as he leaned against the wall.

"I don't know," Chouji smiled as he popped a chip into is mouth and continued talking, "my parents met under very contrived circumstances so these things can work out."

"They did?" Ino said, "Why does that not surprise me?"

"I never heard that." Shikamaru looked at him.

"Yeah, it was during one of the chuunin exam festival nights." Chouji began. "My dad was out partying with your dads. What happened next was they apparently talked him into volunteering into being a human table for a ladies sushi eating contest. Shikaku told him if he volunteered the bar could have more contestants at once. Inoichi said maybe if he was lucky they'd give him the leftovers for his efforts. So my dad stripped off his shirt got scrubbed down and had an array of sushi set across his chest and belly.

"My mother was the winner of that competition. It seems she started talking to him afterwards because she thought he seemed a good natured type – not like the jerks she dated previously. Dad told me on the first anniversary of their meeting mom surprised him by serving him sushi and returned the favor…if you know what I mean. The rest is history." He smiled a very satisfied smile. A moment later, he followed up with another handful of chips.

Shikamaru's jaw hung open.

"My head hurts." Ino muttered as she thought 'Everybody knows their parents do things like that, but forcing the picture into my mind…eeew. Quick, hunt for someone good looking in the crowd to wash that image out. Oooh, Kakashi. He's still on my wish list.'

"May I have your attention?" Tsunade had finally made her appearance. "Gentlemen please line up along side the wall next to where Shizune is standing. Ladies please follow me inside. We're going to explain why you're here shortly."

"See you soon, guys." Ino smiled to her teammates as she followed the cue to go inside.

Neji looked at Shizune in absolute shock as she described what they had all been summoned here for. Tsunade's old friend Boss Jirocho of Tea Country had run across this concept of 'Speed Dating' while across the sea on business. What it entailed was setting up the ladies at numbered tables in a large room. The men would also be assigned numbers and those would be the only official designation you should use for the evening. The reason it was called speed dating was you would only spend four minutes with each lady at her table trying to get to know a little something about each other. They were going to be given a card on which they would note the number of the person or persons you would like the opportunity to date for real on a future occasion.

If both of you selected each other's number you were guaranteed an opportunity. If things were one sided the overseers had the power to make arrangements on your behalf. If you marked nothing on your card you would hear from the Hokage personally and would have to date everyone who happened to mark you down on their card. If no one marked you down on their card, you'd never know because the Hokage was going to arrange one date on everyone's behalf.

'This has got to be the dumbest concept I've ever heard of.' Neji scowled 'I wouldn't be surprised if half of this is just Godaime-sama trying to meddle in everyone's lives. I realize Konoha's population is down but forcing the issue isn't going to help if you're not ready to settle down yet.'

He looked at the expressions of the guys around him; most of them looked dumbstruck as well, except for the expressions of those he considered being hopeless of getting a date out of this: Shino and Ibiki, they looked annoyed. There was also an Anbu who was still wearing his mask. 'I wonder if the Hokage will make him take it off.'

Kakashi started to gesture like he was about to do his disappearing act when Shizune's voice added, "Don't even think of leaving now. The Hokage knows exactly who is here and will arrange for an appropriate penalty for anyone who does not participate in tonight's activity. This also means the use of any kind of clone or substitution justu is strictly prohibited." A collective groan came from the crowd.

'The only good thing about this is I didn't see Tenten in the women's group.' Neji thought, 'That would have been the final straw on this disaster. I think I would have found the Hokage's punishment preferable to four minutes with her tonight.'

"Gaak." Neji saw Kiba in front of him making an 'I'm gonna throw up now' gesture. He smiled 'Somebody had to do it, but it certainly not my style.'

"In a moment, I want you to come forward for your pre-assigned number. When these have all been handed out, I will allow you to enter the main hall." Shizune continued, "At that time you will proceed to the table that matches your number. The tables start with number one just to the left of the door and continue clockwise to twenty-five as you move around the room. Any questions?"

Kiba raised his hand. "Does Akamaru get a number? He's single too." He grinned. Akamaru looked up at him with an equally toothy dog grin.

There was scattered laughter in the crowd while Shizune gave him a very pissed off glare.

A moment later she asked, "Any other questions? No? Come forward for your number assignments."

When Neji got to her she checked her list and handed him card Number 17 and a pen. He looked around him; it obviously wasn't tied to any sort of ranking. Shikamaru had 23 while Chouji was 5 and Shino had 20. 'I'd pick Shino in a fight any day,' He reflected.

Then he caught something that showed there might be a method to the Hokage's madness here. He saw that Gai held the number 1 in his hands, and was already giving Kakashi the business that obviously Tsunade-sama gave it to him for a reason. He obviously didn't realize that throughout the evening Kakashi would be the person following him around because he held number 25 in his hand. He just hoped Gai was not going to spend the whole evening looking over his shoulder to see what his rival was up to. Then again, with this level of fiasco going on…

Ino had been given table number 8. She reflected on what she'd seen out there, 'I guess my best solution is to see if anyone wants another go around. Although it has been over three years since I hit on Kakashi, maybe I can see if I can finally get something out of him.' She tapped a finger on the side of her chin, 'Maybe I'll try telling him the Hokage expects him to have something on his card, he might as well try someone who'll give him some action, but isn't looking for a commitment.'

She smiled to herself, then she took a look at the 'competition'. The girl at table 7 might have been better looking if she didn't pull her jet colored hair back in such a severe fashion. Ino had seen her working in the library when she worked on her medical research or she'd gone there looking for Shikamaru. The girl was probably around her own age as well, but her total look screamed matronly, especially when you took into account the unflattering pair of glasses. Yeah, she needed a makeover and bad.

Ino sighed, 'Can we just get on with it?'

Before the men were allowed in Shizune wanted to check one last thing: apparently after Kiba had drawn attention to himself she wanted to make sure it was okay for Akamaru to cycle through this with him or if special arrangements were needed. After a few minutes of further delay it was decided that since no one was allergic to him, and since he was very much a part of Kiba's identity, they would be left to their own devices.

Neji had watched the delay with further annoyance. 'Bad enough that we're here, but to add that wait to this nonsense,' He frowned, 'let's get this nightmare over and done with.'

The Hokage finally opened the door and let them come in.

After find his way across the room Neji found he was starting with a pretty brunette who was his numeric counterpart. She obviously recognized him because she blushed and smiled shyly. 'Great,' he thought, 'just what I need, a girl with Hinata syndrome.' Sure enough the girl spent the entire time fidgeting and starting sentences and not finishing them. He tried to be patient and nice but all he managed to find out about her by the time their four minutes were over was that she worked in the coffee shop making lattes.

'If this keeps up, this is going to be the longest night of my life.'

As the third session ended, Ino looked up to see Chouji coming over.

"Do we really need to do this?" She muttered to him.

"Hey, it's the Hokage's orders." He chided her back, "I'm not willing to cross her."

"So you mark anything on your card yet?"

"I could mark you."

"Very funny…No, I have a question." Ino gave him a serious look. "7, the librarian you were just with, how did she strike you?"

"Like us, she another person who doesn't understand why she's here." He regarded at Ino, "She even asked me if it was okay if she read a book while we sat there."

"Do me a favor then. Mark her on your card."

"Whatever for?" He held his card in front of him while looking at Ino like she was crazy.

"Just do it. Wait. Let me pick three more girls for you." She snatched his card and looked the room over. "Lady 17 from the coffee shop, waitress from my dad's favorite restaurant 22," she tapped the pen, "and 14, bar and grill girl. That way most of them are associated with food, and the Hokage won't suspect a thing." She happily made 'x' marks with her pen.

Chouji looked at her incredulously. "What if I don't like any of them once I get there?"

"What if you don't like any of these women at all, Chouji? You know Godaime-sama is going to expect something on your card." She leaned forward, "Or you could try to see how many of them will put you on their cards…if…"

"I don't like where this is going." He braced himself.

"You can talk a little about the Bubun Baika no Jutsu, then allude to the variant, you don't have to come out and say it. Just see if they take a hint and are curious." She grinned wickedly at him. "It's been four years, I'm sure you've perfected it by now."

Chouji looked deathly pale for a moment.

"Time's up. Gentlemen please go to the next table." The Hokage announced.

"Go for it, Chouji." She gave him a wink.

"Ino, to paraphrase Shikamaru, you're such a bother." He stood up and moved on.

'He wasn't that annoyed, or he would have used stronger language.' She smiled.

Neji found himself seated across number 21. This one was a little different, she was a non-stop talker. From the moment he sat down she started telling him her likes and dislikes in rapid succession. Occasionally she'd interject things like she thought he had beautiful hair, or that he had unusual eyes. When she mentioned the eyes, he'd had enough of her and told her, "My eyes aren't unusual. There's a whole clan of us here in Konoha. If you weren't so shallow and self-involved, maybe you'd know that. You might even be able to get a boyfriend if you'd take a breath and let someone else speak once in a while."

She suddenly looked like she wanted to cry. Luckily, they called time's up, so he could move on.

"Oh great, just what I need, Gai." Ino flinched as she saw him approaching.

He sat down and looked at her, "So Ino, you're the first familiar face of the evening."

She put her hand to her forehead, "That and everything else," she muttered, "I don't think we even need to rehash this. Do me a favor, and don't mark me on your card. I just don't want to go there again, let's just say it never happened, okay."

"I'm not following you."

"Lee and Sakura's wedding, really drunk."

"Lee didn't get drunk at his wedding, no one would have dared."

"Not him…you." She looked at him, she studied his expression. "You don't remember?"

"I remember it was the proudest day of my life. Lee won his heart's desire, what more is there to remember?"

'Yes,' her inner voice cheered, 'he doesn't remember what happened when we were drunk. Thank you, thank you, thank you, whatever god is looking out for me. Thank you for this one small favor. All these years, I'd been worried for nothing.' However, she couldn't resist testing him one last time; "I had a pretty dress on that day."

"Lilac," he said simply, "It would have been nicer in green, but Sakura's dress, that was perfect; I've never seen Lee look so happy." He started crying, "Somewhere out there is a girl for me like that, I just know there is."

Ino rolled her eyes, "Here, give me your card. I'll help you out." She glanced around the room quickly. '11 does hair…maybe she'd like a challenge. 15 and 19 are both wearing green, maybe it's their favorite color.' "Try to show these three your sensitive side, but don't let them know they were pre-selected for you by a friend, okay."

He looked at he in awe, "Thank you Ino, you're embodiment of thoughtful youth."

'Arrgh, I knew he find a way to wedge that word in before we were done.' She fought with every fiber of her being not to show her annoyance on the face. 'Smile nicely' "You're welcome, Gai."

Neji was in hell.

25 was very hot and heavy with her conversation, he wondered how Kakashi had survived her. She leaned across the table and shifted in such a way that you couldn't help but look at her well endowed chest. So he tried to look at the ceiling, but then she'd grab your hand and you'd look at it while you pulled it back and before you knew it you were staring at her chest again.

Worse than that she was telling you what she'd do to you once she got you alone. Half the things she said…was that even possible?

'I probably can't deter her verbally…I wonder if I go into the Byakugan will it bother her…then again, she might be waiting for someone to flash their specialty at her. Call time, please, call time.'

"Hello, Kakashi." Ino purred as he walked up.

"Give it up, Ino," He looked at her, "Anything you're going to say is going to sound like amateur night compared to the dialog 25 started the evening off with."

"She's that wild, huh."

"She makes the Icha Icha books sound tame." He looked disturbed, "Some part of me wonders if she's a professional girl the Hokage threw her in just to shake things up. I have a hard time believing a normal girl would have the nerve to hit on a guy that aggressively here."

Ino took a quick glace over there. "Omigod, she's got Neji with her right now. His body language is screaming, 'Get me out of here'."

Kakashi took a quick glance over as well. You could see the smile in his eyes as he watched the pride of the Hyuuga clan squirm.

"So, anyways, Kakashi, you know the Hokage is going to expect you to have marked off something on your card." She looked at him, "How about I make you a promise that I'll play by whatever limits you want to set on me…Just so I can have bragging rights about getting a date with you."

"Ino, I know you still want me as an adventure, and, no matter what rules I set, you're going to try to get around them."

"Yeah, I suppose so." Ino shrugged, "I'd be lying if I told you anything different. However, you did shut me down pretty well last time. You can reserve the right to disappear anytime you think I've crossed the line: that would be a major wounding of my ego." She smiled at him, "So what do you say? I'll even settle for going out for tea or coffee…Okay?"

"Time's up!" Shizune was calling time.

"You'll just have to wait and find out, number 8." Kakashi waved but his eyes showed he was thoroughly amused.

Neji looked at 1, she seemed familiar. He started up a conversation with her, and was stunned to actually have a real, honest, person-to-person talk. There was just a hint of a something in her eyes like she recognized him and was waiting for him to recall where they'd met. So he worked with what information he could and finally figured out that she was one of the medics who treated Tenten about two months ago when she had gotten hurt during a training session.

'Dammit, I meet someone who acts like a rational human being, and then I get to thinking about Tenten. Is this really fair?' he debated whether or not to mark her off on his card.

Then suddenly time was called.

He was just starting to get up to leave when the medic made one last comment. "She was your girlfriend, wasn't she? Maybe it's too soon for you to be doing this."

"This has been the most troublesome experience the Hokage has ever inflicted on me." Shikamaru groaned, "I'm starting to think I'd rather relive my first mission as a leader, the pain to all involved would be far less."

"What? Did horny girl 25 say something that scared you?" Ino smirked, "Or maybe she put some ideas in your head that you didn't know were there…and you want to get'cha some?"

"It's bad enough they're annoying without hearing it from you too."

"I think you're the only male virgin in this room."

"And, of course, you would know." He gave her a glare, "You can't possibly have done them all."

"Okay, so some of them are still on my wish list…but that doesn't mean they haven't."

"Just give it up, Ino." Shikamaru frowned, "I'm not interested in these girls."

"Yes, yes, whatever." She looked at him "That still doesn't mean the Hokage won't force the issue. So what do you think you could put up with in a girl…for now."

"Someone quiet and isn't a tease." He rested his hand on his chin and stared at the wall resting the hand with his card lightly on the table.

"Great." Ino snatched the card "I've got three that are perfect for you: 7, our little librarian, 16, she's a medic, cool headed, very practical, and 20, kind of quiet but there's just a little something about her." Check…check…check, her pen flashed across his card.

"Ino, this isn't what this is all about."

Godaime-sama wants us to date, you'll date. You don't have to marry anybody, what are you so paranoid about?"

"I just have a bad feeling about this." Shikamaru accepted the card back from Ino. "You have to forgive me but that's the way I am."

2 gave Neji a sweet smile as he sat down. She was a green-eyed blond, conservatively dressed. His initial impression of her came across as harmless. She sat there and said, "Please, you go first, tell me a little about yourself.

He was surprised. Two rational people in a row maybe there was a change he'd survive this after all. So for the next two minutes he told her a little of his aspirations. It felt good to have a chance to express some of his ideas freely.

Then all of a sudden the girl got this strange smile on her face and suddenly he felt something press against the inside of his upper leg. It was her foot, and the girl had no subtlety. She started to pinch her way along with her toes. His hand snapped out to grab her ankle. Fighting the urge to hurt her, he hissed, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"It's a date, isn't it?" She deviously winked, "I thought I'd like to get a preview. I've heard all sorts of interesting things about the Hyuuga clan."

"Our specialty features our eyes, not our thighs. I think you need to do better research."

"Let me ask you point blank, are you gay?" Ino regarded Sai across the table.

He just looked around the room like he was trying to ignore her.

"I'm serious, Sai. You know the Hokage is going to assign you to go out with some hapless girl. If you're not into that scene, just let her know. I've heard the penis obsession stories from Sakura and Naruto."

He was looking at her now. "Everyone is right about you, you can be very annoying."

"Yeah, yeah, com'on, I know you can throw out worse insults than that."

"I just don't want to be here."

"I don't either, and I can name about eight more people as well." Ino waved her hand, "No really, if you aren't into this contrived scene, and your preferences run against the flow of things, let the Hokage know…Really…I've had my suspicions about you for a while."

"Yeah, thanks for awaking me to the reality of myself." His voice dripped with sarcasm…when did he learn to do that? He started to stare with a bored expression at Shikamaru's back.

Ino blinked "So you're saying I helped you figure that out about yourself. Wasn't that four years ago already, and you haven't done anything about it? Oh, and don't even think about Shikamaru, he shot down every guy who's tried hitting on him."

Sai looked at her again.

"I don't know what it is about him, but somehow he's a gay magnet." She smirked, "I've seen a couple of different guys try their luck. He's assured me he's not into guys, but he doesn't seem to want date anyone in Konoha, I think he's got a thing for someone who lives elsewhere, but he doesn't have the nerve to tell her. Every time I try to bring it up, he shuts me down. Oh well." Ino shrugged.

Sai looked slightly disappointed.

"Hey, since the Hokage expects you to have something marked off on your card…" She reached over and flicked an x into box 7. Her thoughts were racing. 'Dammit, he's so pretty. It would be a shame to waste him on guys but I've just got to find a way to know.'

Sai just raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled.

"Okay everyone, twenty minute break. Refreshments will be served. Please keep track of your cards. Ladies stay here. Gentlemen please go out through main doors." Shizune called out.

A/N: Yeah right, twenty minute break. I hope I wasn't too heavy on the Neji abuse. I'm trying to balance it …really I am. Also you should have seen the charts I made so I could keep the sequence of who's talking to who and when straight. See you real soon…please review…especially new people…I love to hear from new voices.