A/N: I am not really big on Author's notes anymore so don't expect much if any. This is a short chapter to introduce you to the story. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Prelude

This tale begins in an unstable time. The Northern Alliance composed of Otogakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure grow increasingly more aggressive with every village they destroy. In a successful attempt to stop the growth of the Northern Alliance Sunogakure, and Konohagakure formed an uneasy alliance with the growing power of Kirigakure to form the Southern Coalition. The six great hidden villages have now settled into a long cold war. One wrong move on either side could bring about the deaths of thousands of innocent people.

Otogakure moves behind the scenes to bring about an end to the cold war and a beginning to a new great shinobi war. With the death of Orochimaru a new power broker has assumed leadership of Oto and is pulling the strings bringing the nations dangerously close to an all out conflict.

And So It Begins

Shikamaru sighed as he stared out the window of the Hokage's office. Once again the brilliant strategist was forced to wake up before the sun to assume his duties. It had become routine since he had entered the position of the Hokage's chief adviser. Being lazy as usual Shikamaru wished he had not come upon a position with such responsibility but he had little choice. After the assassination of the former Hokage, Tsunade, Naruto was thrust into the position of leading a village with no experience in such things, let alone leading a village a cold war with the aggressive Northern Alliance. So it came to no surprise that Shikamaru could not refuse his close friend Naruto when he came asking for him to fill that newly created billet. At this moment Shikamaru and Naruto sat chewing over a problem they had been having trouble with for some time now, their friend Ino.

"It's been three years since the incident and still I hardly see her but once a week," Shikamaru sighed rolling his eyes.

"Do you try talking to her and getting her to try to socialize or anything?" Naruto asked leaning back in his chair.

"What? Of course I do! I try to stop by at least once a week to see how she is doing but our conversations are always one sided with me doing all the talking. Besides, between advising you and her billet as interrogator there just is no time to hang out," Shikamaru stared out the window hoping to catch a glimpse of the clouds as the sun rose over Konoha, "It's all so..."

"Troublesome," They said in unison.

"I know," Naruto groaned glancing at the mounds of paperwork and reports on his desk. "Not to beat a dead horse but I would've expected you of all people to have thought of a solution by now."

"I admit that I haven't been putting much of my thought into it. I am so focused on this damned Cold War." Shikamaru's brow furrowed in frustration at the current conflict and his inability to help out someone he considered family. Naruto seemed deep in thought. A smile slowly began to form on his face which usually meant he was up to something clever. Naruto quickly sat up in his chair and opened one of the drawers of his desk.

"I think I have an idea!" Naruto pulled out a parchment from the drawer. Shikamaru couldn't help but raise his eyebrow in interest. Naruto had matured in a lot of ways since the defeat of the Akatsuki. On top of his new maturity he had an air of wisdom that had built up over the past three years since he had assumed the position of Hokage. Naruto had really come into his own but complex problems still troubled him greatly. When it came to helping out people he cared about though, Naruto was number one. "Ino has fallen into a rut of being antisocial and after three years has been unable to move on. I say we turn her life upside down and force her hand. We should pull her from her interrogation billet and assign her to be the escort for our soon to be arriving delegate from Kiri." A tick mark appeared on Shikamaru's head. Kiri had repeatedly refused to treat with Konoha after the agreement of a mutual protection pact. The fact that they were now sending a delegate was very important news...

"What guest?" Shikamaru growled.

"Oh," Naruto chuckled nervously, "See there is a funny story I forgot to tell you about. The Mist have completed their operations at sea and have finally agreed to begin joint operations. To that end they have decided to send Ookami Rennik to help advise us on security issues and broker a deal to send shinobi to our borders to ensure the safety of our borders." The tick on Shikamaru's head grew ten fold at the news of who was coming.

"So you are telling me you forgot to mention the Lord Commander of the Legendary Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Heir to the Mizukage, Grand Admiral of the Iron Fleet, and Hero of Kirigakure was on his way here?" Shikamaru was intensely angry which was rare for the laid back ninja.

Naruto scratched the back of his head nervously, "Yeah, that is the one. I guess it just kind of slipped my mind, but back to the plan. What do you think of it?"

Shikamaru let his anger subside to think about the prospects of such a plan. The more he thought about it, the more he liked it. "Ino is usually a social butterfly, with good tastes in fashion, and thorough knowledge of celebrities. Rennik is such a celebrity amongst to Southern Coalition due to his many victories at sea, conquering the island nations, and bringing prosperity throughout the great sea. I actually think your plan is spot on for once."

"I will draw up her new orders immediately," Naruto said with his infamous grin.

Ino solemnly made her way to the Hokage's tower. A courier pigeon had arrived with an important mission for her. This was completely out of her usual routine which would usually be interesting to most ninja, but Ino couldn't bring herself to care. She was twenty and already it had felt like the climax of her life was over leaving her with nothing to do but carry out the rest of her days alone. Sometimes it was hard to come to grips with how cruel life could be to someone. Ino would never forget the month her life was taken from her. The only people she felt still cared for her was Shikamaru, Chouji, and her father, Inoichi. Sure she had other friends but no one could understand the pain and anguish she felt everyday.

Ino stopped realizing she had reached the Hokage's office. Ino knocked on the door softly. She knew Shikamaru and Naruto would be inside, so she just hoped this visit would be over with quick.

"Enter," came the Hokage's voice from inside. Ino pushed the door open and walked inside a couple of steps.

"You summoned me," Ino stated staring at the hardwood floor of the office unable to bring herself to look into the eyes of her old teammate and her Hokage. There was no emotion in her voice.

"Yes! Please come sit down Ino!" Naruto yelped cheerfully. Ino knew Naruto must be up to something.

"Who is to be interrogated now?" Ino shuffled over the the chair and sat down still not making eye contact with either of the men present.

"Actually, you are being re-tasked from interrogation to a very important mission," Naruto chimed happily. Ino raised an eyebrow genuinely interested in what this mission entailed. "We have a shinobi on his way here from Kiri and it is your mission to accompany him during his stay!"

"I don't understand. I can't use my mind jutsus without the other individual being aware of their effects." Ino's eyebrow dropped when she realized it was probably some sort of interrogation type deal.

"No it's not like that..." Naruto's brow furrowed as he tried to figure out a way to explain it. "We need you to keep him company and ensure he has a pleasant stay."

"So you either want me to be a baby sitter or a whore. Which is it?" Ino was irritated now but didn't care about what the answer might be. A mission was a mission.

"Ino, this is an important mission I believe only you are capable of accomplishing," Shikamaru butted in to save the conversation from turning sour. He knew Ino better than anyone and knew just what wold catch her interest. "We have had unstable relations with Kirigakure up to this point. The fact that they are finally sending a delegate to treat with us is invaluable to the Southern Coalition's survival. Normally any shinobi would be able to safely escort your average delegate but the Mist have decided to throw us an especially tasty treat. They are sending no other than Ookami Rennik, Hero of Kirigakure. We need this man to be pleased with what he sees in Konoha so that is why we are coming to you. Ino, no one has the level of social expertise you do. You are fashionable, elegant, and quite frankly the only person in Konoha who wold have even a chance of wooing such an influential individual to our cause. There is no one in Konoha besides you we can give this mission to."

Ino's eyes lit up as realization sunk in. This was not going to be an interrogation mission. This mission would require her other natural talents. To make it all the sweeter she would have the opportunity to meet a celebrity among the Southern Coalition. A man the papers were going crazy about and the same man all the magazines had their sights on. This man was a hot topic and she was being tasked with showing him the bright side of Konoha. Ino thought she could feel a hint of butterflies in her stomach as the realization hit her full force.

"Oh Kami! I am going to need new dresses, and my hair needs to be redone!" Ino felt herself panicking. It had been three years since she had tried to look pretty for someone and she was in no place to run off and meet a celebrity right this moment. "Oh and they have to be extravagant dresses to impress a man of Rennik's stature! Where will I get the money! What I don't have the time!" Shikamaru and Naruto shared a low five hidden by the desk. That was the Ino they knew and loved.

"Calm down Ino. Go crazy and get what you need to accomplish this mission. Put it all on this visa," Naruto said sliding over a Konoha credit card, "This mission is important so I expect your best. You meet Rennik in four days at The Great Naruto Bridge. Don't forget to stay alert during your mission. We have no doubt Rennik has a big target painted on his back. A lot of people want him dead."

"I will!" Ino exclaimed snatching up the visa. She felt excited for the first time in three years. "Thank you guys so much!" Ino hurried from the office with her mind full of the many tasks she would need to accomplish before leaving to meet with Rennik.

'So much to do, so little time,' Ino thought.