This fic is going to be strictly ShikaxIno. So while there may be mentions and hints of other pairings, those will never really be brought to light. I'm really looking forward to writing a one pairing only fic and I hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter One

Yamanaka Ino sighed as she walked slowly down to the Hokage's office to receive her latest mission. At eighteen she had just recently become a jonin, the first Kunoichi of her class to be promoted to this new rank. A fact that she had felt necessary to share with just about every one she met for the first year of her joninhood. Though she was a newer jonin Ino had already proven her worth as a spy. In fact the limited information she had received from the genin who had notified her that the Hokage had requested her presence on a mission had stated that it was an information gathering mission.

Information gathering, as it happened to be, was Ino's forte. Her naturally inquisitive and all together nosy personality, not to mention her easy smile that allowed strangers to open up to her, made Ino the ideal ninja to masquerade as the new citizen in a village. Not many ninja had a sunny face as Ino did, she suspected that between battle scars and assassination missions not many shinobi could smile as openly as her. The blonde kunoichi gathered information and her team mates decided where and when to carry out the rest of the mission, whatever it happened to be.

As she climbed the many stairs that led to the Hokage's waiting room, Ino wondered who her team mates would be. Depending on the nature of the mission they could range any where from brainless brawn to a muscle-less thinker. She was sincerely hoping for a mixture of the two, some one who could fight well but if need be talk their way out of a situation. And experience would be nice, the mission could be a disaster if she was the only jonin on the team.

It seemed to Ino, upon entering the office, that Sakura had re-decorated again. The small room's walls were sea-side blue in color and the room smelled of fresh paint. Bookcases, that Ino was sure had not been there before, lined the walls and two large chairs with blue cushions on the seats stood in front of her. The only thing that had not been changed was Tsunade's desk. The large wooden desk still stood in the center of the room, commanding one's attention and then directing it onto the pale haired woman who sat formidably behind it.

Today, like many other days, the Hokage of Konoha seemed slightly hung over and leaned heavily on the said desk. Sakura, now Tsunade's full fledged assistant, hovered nervously behind her as if expecting her mentor to pass out at ant moment.

Quietly Ino padded over to one of the voluminous chairs and took a seat. Her slight frame was over powered by the seat, the result being that she looked to be much younger than she really was. Looking suspiciously at her Hokage, Ino raised an eye brow at the pink haired girl behind her leader.

Sakura shook her head in a silent warning, her small mouth set firmly. In response Ino nestled further back into the chair, crossed her arms, and waited for Tsunade to speak. When the blonde woman, who despite being several years older now did not look like she had aged a day, didn't show any signs of even thinking of talking Ino opened her mouth.

"Hokage-sama, there's a mission you wanted me for?"

"Hmm...yes, I was waiting for your partner to show up but I suppose-" Tsunade was cut off by the sound of a door opening and Ino heard foot steps behind her. Sakura muttered something incoherent and there was a whooshing sound as the person who had just entered the room sat in the chair beside Ino. Smiling wryly Tsunade continued,

"Good to see you decided to come by Shikamaru." At the mention of his name Shikamaru stood up and gave a small bow and uttered a greeting. Ino leapt up and squealing, threw her arms around the surprised recipient of her hug. Blushing Ino let go and explained her actions to the Hokage.

"Sorry, we haven't seen each other in...god, it must have been two years by now." Shikamaru nodded in agreement as he sat down again. Ino mirrored his actions and Tsunade once again continued, this time with an irritated edge that allowed no further interruptions.

"You two will be traveling to the village Hidden in the Mist for an intelligence gathering mission. All you need to do is gather information about the status of the village, their economy, the size of their army, and any miscellaneous thing you pick up as well. As you both know the Mist was a large threat to Konoha in the past. In the last three years both the Mist and the Leaf have been working toward peace but we can't let our guard down, even after the treaty has been signed. All I want to know is if they seem to be planning any attacks or raids."

"How long will we be away?" Ino asked as soon as the blonde Hokage had finished speaking.

"About a year I'd say. It could be longer or it could be shorter. Either way I'll send a messenger to you when it's time you two returned to Konoha."

Ino could feel her eyes widen while Shikamaru whispered how troublesome this would be, a whole year away from the Leaf? In unfamiliar territory and with out much protection too.

"How will we be disguised?" Shikamaru asked suddenly and Ino stopped her mental panic to listen, a\ pathetic attempt to calm herself.

Leaning forward over her desk Tsunade smirked,

"You two will be disguised as two villagers from just outside the Mist territory. And of course to make moving into the village seem necessary, you'll be pretending to be a newly wed couple who are seeking protection from the Mist village shinobi. Ino, you'll be a florist and Shikamaru...well you can be whatever you deem fits."

Of Tsunade's explanation only three words had really sunk in with Ino,

Newly wed couple.

And so begins the story...lol! I really hope you like it and if you do then please review!

-Fumei