Hey there! This is the Beta'd version of chapter one! Thanks to EvilFaerie17! She's the best x3! So, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto! xD Only in my dreams...

'-thinking'

"-talking"

The Shadow and the Blossom

Chapter 1: She called me... Shika?

"Brrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing… Briiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing… BRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNG..."

Normally, there would be the crashing sound of the clock hitting the wall or being smashed into tiny pieces, but not today. The poor alarm clock was useless because nobody was in the room, so it continued to ring until the minute changed. The girl who was living in this house wasn't there. Nope, Konoha's blossom was training.

Sakura Haruno was in the forest, practicing her taijutsu with… herself. Her pink hair floated around as she ducked a kunai, thrown by her clone. The clearing around her was full of holes and cracks as a direct result of her rigorous training. She threw a pack of senbon, which the clone stopped with shurikens. Suddenly, Sakura made a hand sign and the clone disappeared. She looked up to see a bird.

"Not again…" She sighed and disappeared in a swirl of blossoms.

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Shikamaru was lying on his back watching clouds. Everyone would be surprised to see him awake at this hour; it was six in the morning, after all. He was so deep in thought that he didn't notice the bird until it started to peck his hair. He looked at the bird, annoyed.

"Troublesome. It's the fifth one this week." A shadow engulfed him and he disappeared.

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Kiba was sitting on Akamaru, checking out his new weapon. His inspection was cut short when his mother barged into his room, a bird on her shoulder. She was saying things like on how proud she was that her son was in ANBU so young. Kiba looked at the bird and grinned: He would be able to try out his new weapon.

"Bye mom, I'm off!" And he disappeared in a puff of smoke, with Akamaru of course.

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Neji was helping Hinata with her taijutsu when he saw the bird. He stopped for a moment, thinking about how birds were affecting his life, and then he turned to Hinata, bowed, and told her that they would continue later. She nodded, tied her long purple hair in a ponytail, and left.

"Well, here goes nothing; again." In a tornado of feathers he disappeared.

-----Outside Tsunade's office-----

The four ninja looked at each other. Understanding each other without words, Neji nodded and knocked on the door. They heard voices arguing, a crashing sound and then, finally, the sound they had been waiting for.

"Enter."

They pushed the door to see a drunken Tsunade, a mad Shizune and… lots of paperwork. (A/N: Normal things…XD) They sweat-dropped and Kiba started laughing. Tsunade dismissed Shizune with a flick of her hand and turned to the four ninja. She looked at Kiba, who was rolling on the floor.

'Just HOW did that kid pass the ANBU exam?!'

"Inuzuka! Get a hold of yourself!" Kiba immediately stopped laughing and straightened up, getting serious.

"The reason I called you four here is because I have an A-rank mission for you. This is a very important mission and that's why I need you to do it; you're my best ANBU squad after all."

'So young, but yet so strong…' She thought to herself.

"Um, Tsunade-sama? Do you mind explaining the mission?" asked Sakura, since her somewhat dazed mentor seemed to be lost in thought.

"Ah, yes. Your mission is to escort Daisuke Haruzu to Suna. Don't let your guard down; he's wanted by the Akatsuki. I don't know why, and neither does he, so don't ask." She turned to Neji. "Do you accept this mission?"

"Hai!" She nodded approvingly.

"Good, you'll leave tomorrow at dawn, so don't be late." She handed over a scroll to Shikamaru.

"As the strategist of the team, I need you to study this. It's all the information we have on the Akatsuki. It'll be easier for all of you if you know their specialties. It also contains all the information on the mission." Shikamaru took the scroll and nodded.

Tsunade looked at the ANBU team.

"One last thing… Don't die. (A/N: don't worry people! This IS Naruto, not Tales of Symphonia! XD) And now… Out of my office! I've got sake to drink! ...I mean paperwork to do!"

The team hurried out of the office; nobody wanted to see Tsunade mad, especially the ones who had already seen it. Sakura looked at her teammates.

"I think this is going to be a long mission…"

"But we'll get through it, even if it's troublesome." Said Shikamaru and

Sakura smiled.

"Yes, you're right Shika! But we better pack up and get some rest before tomorrow. See ya, guys!"

In swirl of blossoms, she was gone. The rest of the team nodded and went home as well. When Shikamaru arrived at his home he decided to pack. He finished in no time. He then remembered the scroll.

'Mendokusai (1)… I still need to study this…' Realization suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks.

'She… called me Shika?'

You know, for such a smart guy, he can be so slow.

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(1) How troublesome/annoying

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Cerma-chan