Maybe I'm a masochist.
That is the only explanation as to WHY I would start a new story despite my other two in progress fics.
Well, there's also my justification:
This is based off of the hypnotism section of my AP Psychology book and the longer I wait to type it, the longer my brain has to forget the information.
Good, right?
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, I wouldn't have had time to sleep until one in the afternoon today. Do I own Naruto? Nope!
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Post Hypnotic Suggestion
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"Alright, your mission is a low-class escort of a merchant to his home village." Tsunade raised her eyebrow, "It shouldn't be too difficult, given that you're both over-qualified for this mission."
"Troublesome," a lazy, Jonin-class nin sighed hopelessly.
"But, Tsunade-shishou, if it's so low, why have two Jonin assigned to it?" her apprentice questioned haughtily. "There's no reason for Shikamaru and I to be assigned on this mission! Why not send a genin team?"
Tsunade merely sighed and peered at the two in front of her. It was an experiment really to see how well the two most intelligent of their class worked together for possible future missions, but the Godaime already had an excuse for them: "What am I supposed to do, Sakura? Have a repeat of your team's first C-rank mission?"
"Well, no…"
"Exactly. If you two aren't out of the village by nightfall, I swear I will hunt you both down personally and force you from the village," Tsunade commanded. "Dismissed!"
Both Sakura and Shikamaru bowed respectfully before exiting the stifling office of the Hokage and walked together for some time even as they made their way down the streets of Konoha. They were silent, but not uncomfortably so.
"So…Shikamaru, as leader, what time are we leaving?" Sakura asked, breaking the silence.
"We'll meet with the client first, but we'll leave at roughly two in the afternoon," the lazy man sighed. "It's all so troublesome."
Sakura didn't respond, but kept pace with his slow gait. She internally planned every item she would need to pack; Shikamaru's time frame didn't allow much room for packing. "Where are we meeting the merchant?"
"Ichiraku's."
"Oh, alright then."
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Two Months Later
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The two strolled into the village happily, hands clutching and blissful smiles as they gazed at each other. They ignored the disbelieving stares and gasps of the two stationed at the gate, merely continuing on to the Hokage's office.
Tsunade herself stared flabbergasted at the scene before her…so unusual in that this particular couple hadn't even seemed remotely interested in the other prior to the mission. She was struck with the notion that something was off with the couple…the giggles of her apprentice, the doting nature of the usually lazy strategist…something was wrong, and she'd be damned if she didn't figure it out.
"Would you two care to explain why you seem like a couple?" the Godaime asked straightforwardly.
"Oh, Shishou! How could you be so silly!" Sakura giggled. "We've been engaged for the longest time!"
Oh yes, Tsunade knew something was wrong.
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Ino Yamanaka was the best friend a person could have. At least…in her own mind. This wasn't exactly what was running through her mind when she encountered her best friend and her teammate making out in front of Ichiraku's.
"Sakura?" Ino cried out in shock, harshly clutching her friend's arm as she dragged the pink-haired girl away from the disappointed shadow-user. "What the hell are you doing?" Ino screeched angrily.
"I was…"
"Moving in on my boyfriend!" Ino finished, eyes popping from her sockets.
"No! I was with my fiancé," Sakura sighed dazedly, ignoring Ino's pissed off expression.
Ino was beside herself with anger and was on the verge of telling off her nearly former best friend, when Genma arrived in a flurry of smoke. "Hey, Tsunade wants to see you, Ino."
"She can go fu-"
"Now, sweets," Genma said, pulling her away from Sakura. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Tsunade thinks that something weird is going on, so don't do anything stupid."
Ino huffed angrily as she formed the hand seals to exit the upsetting scene, leaving Genma alone as he watched Shikamaru and Sakura instantly grab each other. He nearly stayed staring at the couple, feeling his own temperature rising…until the pissed off Ino appeared next to him, grabbed him, and hauled him into the office of the pissed off Tsunade, "You voyeur! If you don't get your dumb ass to Shizune and tell her how much you love her, I'll make sure to send you on the most basic mission that even a genin would outrank it!" Tsunade hissed as Genma ran out the door and straight into the arms of his girlfriend.
"Tsunade! I want answers!" Ino cried, bringing her hand down on the older woman's desk, "Shika and I have been dating for nearly three months! What the hell is going on?"
"I'm not sure exactly, but I am willing to allow you and one other person to investigate. You have a week to choose a partner, then a week to gather any information you can from Shikamaru and Sakura. After that, you and your chosen partner will recreate the mission, which entails that you take the same path and interrogate anyone that they interacted with," Tsunade said seriously.
"Fine," the younger girl spun on her heel to leave the office.
"But," Tsunade began, making the girl pause, "I want you to keep in mind that they may not be doing this willingly. Sakura told me last night that they've been engaged for a year. Do you believe that?"
Ino spun around again to face the Hokage, "Definitely not!"
"Exactly. I believe that neither one of them has any clue what it is they're doing. So, I don't want you to 'confront' either one of them. Play along to gather information," Tsunade commanded. "You wanted so badly to be assigned to Intelligence? Do this right and I'll make it happen."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
"Dismissed."
-o0-
Ino walked down the bleak streets of Konoha. It was a perfectly sunny day, but Ino's perception was anything but.
Two years of planning went into her getting Shikamaru's attention and the last three months had brought that plan to fruition. Granted, she and Shikamaru had only dated one month before he was sent on a two-month mission with forehead. She couldn't believe that Sakura would betray her after her advice and help…but still Ino wanted to blame and hate her.
With her internal monologue, Ino didn't even register when an arm slung over her shoulder and a voice began talking. "…Baa-chan wanted me to talk to you. She didn't really tell me anything, but imagine my surprise when I saw you! So, what's up, Ino-chan?"
Ino recovered enough to breathe calmly and remove his arm from her shoulders, "Let's go take a walk Naruto. You haven't seen Sakura yet, right?"
"Sakura-chan's back? Let's go, Ino!" Naruto hauled Ino around the corner in his desperate search for his favorite crush.
Although Ino severely wished to scream at him for dirtying her clothes, she could only smile happily to herself. 'Thanks, Tsunade…now I'll have Shika to myself in no time,' Ino thought with her tone of sincere maliciousness, one she reserved only for when she knew she'd get exactly what she wanted.
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Yes, yes I know. Not the best opening chapter in the world…
But, I can guarantee that it'll get better and I'll update faster than my other stories because this entire thing has been planned out for the last three months.
I can also guarantee that my writing skills are far better than what is displayed in this chapter.
Unfortunately, I started writing this the day I decided to sleep in until one in the afternoon. Not to mention, I was watching Dead Like Me…then my mom and I started watching Dexter…so I was distracted to say the least.
So, please alert and review to keep me on track if you're interested.
Trust me, no matter how many messages for 'Favorites' I get, nothing gets me going like the death threats I get in Reviews…See, I AM a masochist!
Review and I'll love you forever (metaphorically)!
:3
AJlovesKakashi
:3
Dedicated to Bloody Diamond…who knew about this story when I first thought it up and knows that it'll get better (right?)!
Also dedicated to the gracious reviewers who leave me reviews…and who will get an enthusiastic "Thank You!" and a joke (sometimes) in return from myself.