Disclaimer: I own nothing...I don't even own the whole plot. The loss of memory was inspired by Fireblazie's story And They Say Chivalry is Dead. This is a short chapter because it's the prologue, the real chapters will be longer.

Prologue

Sasuke Ino and Sakura sat in the waiting room of Tsunade's office, well, waiting. Sasuke was attempting to read a scroll about varius jutsu techniques bit was constantly being interrupted by Ino who was trying to make small talk(aka flirt with him). Sakura usually a chatter box of different ideas and opinions about any subject was strangely quiet. She sat in the sraight backed wooden chair with her hands in her lap and her head down. She knew that they had been called in to receive a mission and this being her first since Tsunade had taken Sakura under her wing, Sakura assumed it was a test. Something that wouldn't be too hard but would still force her to use her mind and to also reley on her team mates. Ah her team mates, she couldn't be more thrilled to have Sasuke on her team. Sakura would finally get to show the raven haired teen how much she had improved, granted he probably still wouldn't be impressed but she could hope, right?

Ino on the other hand was another matter entirely. Tsunade had put the blonde haired loud mouth on the team for the very reason that Sakura didn't want her there. She would take Sasuke's attention away from Sakura and and Sakura would have to work extra hard to stand out. Ino represented competition and frankly Sakura didn't need the extra burden right now. What with trying to impress Tsunade when Sasuke the last surviving Uchiha, the only one with both sharingon in Konoha on her team. No Sakura defently didn't need Ino hogging the glory.

A random jonin exited the office and nodding to them he warned "Tsunade will see you now but be careful she's in a foul mood."

Taking the lead Sakura said "Let me handle this I've dealt with her when she's like this before and believe me, you say one wrong thing and your out of her office, maybe demoted if she's in particularly bad mood." It was true. She had seen a few jonins demoted not in the sense that they became chuunins but they weren't allowed on any thing above a C rank mission some times for months. Sakura had seen countless others booted out of the building and even a few out of the window. At first this had disturbed and frightened her but as she leaned what to say and what under any circumstances NOT to say she had relaxed into the role she had now.

Entering the office quietly so as not to disturb any thing they filed in and took their seats in the somewhat more comfortable chairs. Tsunade was currently in the process of duct taping her cracked desk together mumbling curses all the while. Sakura barely held in a sigh this meant that they would have to order a new desk soon-the third one this week, some one should really look into some anger management lessons for Tsunade. Loking up at them she pulled open a drawer and shoved some papers into Sasuke's hands.

"This is a C ranked mission. All you have to do is track down two ninja from the Village Hidden in the Grass and escort them back to the border. Those two have been hiding in our territory for nearly three weeks now. They seem to be chuunin so the three of you should be able to handle it.

Any questions?"

"What-" Ino started only to find herself being pushed out of the office.

"I don't have time for your questions little girl." This statement really riled Ino up. It wasn't bad enough that Tsunade wouldn't answer her but she didn't even know her name. Ino wasn't the type of person to give up so easily so she turned around crossed her arms and said

"I have a question and it needs an answer." and upon seeing Tsunades face she added "Hokage-sama."

"I told you I don't have time. I have a lot of work to do."She growled.

Ino was usually very polite to her elders especially the more important elders but right now her temper had gotten the better of her and just before Tsunade slammed the door shut she retorted "Yeah you might want to start with learning your shinobi's names."

Groaning Sakura dragged Ino away, that little out burst was going to drop some points off her score for sure. Why couldn't Ino learn to keep her mouth shut. The only person who could render her speechless was Shikamaru and only when he was annoyed enough to actually work up the energy to point out why she should shut up.

Opening the folder Sasuke began to scan it for useful information. Two ninja from the grass, they seemed to be chuunin, and they had been in the forest for two weeks. This was all the info it had? It didn't even tell them where to start looking. There was no trace of a last sighting, no description of appearance, and the forest was huge. It could take days or even weeks to find them, if they could find two ninja who's identities were unknown.

"We could be out there for awhile, go home and pack. We'll meet at the gates in one hour." he decided. The girls nodded and since he didn't seem to be in a good mood didn't ask him to walk them home.

Meanwhile...

Shikamaru walked into Tsunade's office pulling on his chuunin vest. The genin she had sent to get him had woken him up and it was only 11:00 in the morning. "You wanted to see me?" he yawned.

"I just sent Sasuke, Sakura and your blonde haired team mate-"

" Ino."

"Yes Ino, anyway on a mission your job is to follow them at a distance and make sure no one sees you."

"Why?"

"I have just received word that there are actually four ninja and besides those two girls may tear Sasuke apart. They're leaving soon so you better hurry up."

Tsunade forgot however that Shikamaru is a genius. He knew that the real reason he was being sent was that she was worried his three comrades wouldn't be able to handle the mission. It would look bad if another shinobi had to be sent out so instead he had to follow them secretly. How troublesome, now he had to conceal his chakra while keeping them in sight. When he got back from this he was taking a vacation.

At the Gates...

The threesome set off along the only existing path in the forest. Tall dark trees with many branches grew up and around them. Sakura wished they could run along in the trees but she knew that since they didn't know where the ninja were it would be smarter to walk at this slower pace. This way they could listen for noises that might indicate where the ninja were.

"So Sasuke, when we're done with this mission do you want to go out to dinner to celebrate?" What was it that she had thought about not talking? No matter if that was how Ino was going to be then Sakura would just have to fight back.

"He won't be able to Ino-pig because he'll be out with me, right Sasuke?"

"No way billboard brow Sasuke's going with me!"

"No way pig!"

"Fore head!"

"PIG!"

"FOREHEAD!"

"Shut up." Sasuke the man of many words walking ahead of them said over his shoulder.

Shikamaru sighed. Was it not enough that he had to be out here following them? Did he really have to listen to these two argue the whole trip too? That was the one most troublesome thing about women he figured-their voices.

Stopping in a clearing Sasuke looked up at the trees squinting his eyes. The two girls who were still arguing bumped in to him and glaring At each other went to stand on either side of him. Some thing didn't feel right but he couldn't figure out what it was.

Hiding behind a bush Shikamaru could feel it too. Some other presence was here too and it wasn't a friendly one.

Suddenly thin tendrils of grass began to grow around Ino and Sakura's ankles. They tried to break free by lifting their legs up but it didn't work. Five people whose faces were in shadow appeared in the trees surrounding the clearing. Hundreds of kunai senbon and throwing stars were hurtled at Sasuke, Sakura, and Ino. Sasuke who wasn't entangled had only a second to come up with a plan, by throwing himself at one of the girls he could free them and the two of them could escape but the other one would surely die.

Shikamaru saw all of this and knew what Sasuke must be thinking. He might be able to save one of them if Sasuke saved the other but if he just ran himself then one of the girls would die. He didn't think Sasuke would just leave them there but he couldn't really tell, after all it was Sasuke Shikamaru wasn't sure if he had ever seen the guy show emotion.

With no time left Sasuke had to make a decision. With out hesitating any longer he dived.

So what do you think? Please review the story and let me know. I suppose I can't stop you from flaming me but please don't write any thing to nasty. I am eagarly awiating all of your reviews.

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-Fumei