Chapter Two:
"Now that you're all here, let's get down to business." Tsunade's firm voice was the sign for all four Chūnin to wipe the playful expressions from their faces and listen.
"The daimyo and his family will be taking a vacation in Takigakure for a week. Your mission is to guard them until they return." Terumi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She glanced at the other three to find them all sharing the same skeptical expression.
It was Ino who spoke the words they all wanted to say. "Lady Fifth, isn't it the job of the Twelve Guardian Ninja to guard them? With all due respect, if you have to dispatch a group of Chūnin to do a job they can do easily, there's something wrong am I right?"
Tsunade sighed. "Recently there have been numerous incidents wherein the daimyo's life was in danger. The daimyo thinks that members of the Twelve are behind it. We don't know who and how many they are, but this vacation is the perfect chance for them to execute whatever plan they may have. You four will act under a guise of touring the daimyo and his family around Takigukare."
"So you want us to determine who the traitors are without them discovering that we are spies sent to uncover them, while protecting the daimyo at the same time," Shikamaru interjected matter-of-factly. "Plus, I'm guessing the daimyo planned this himself and asked you to follow through with his plan.
The Fifth Hokage nodded. "You must not let them find out that you are Ino-Shika-Cho, or else they may become suspicious."
"That's why there's an additional member to the team," Shikamaru concluded as he glanced at Terumi from the corner of his eye. Terumi felt a twinge of annoyance at his words. He made it sound as if having her there would be a burden. She suddenly felt the need to prove him wrong.
As if reading her mind, Tsunade explained, "Terumi is an excellent kunoichi who is both clever and skilled. She'll be able to work well with all of you."
She almost couldn't fight the beam that wanted to cross her face. Being praised by the most powerful kunoichi in Konoha made Terumi swell with pride. "What do we do once we've rooted out the traitors?"
"Report to me immediately and make sure you have the evidence to back up your claim. Afterwards, keep your eye out for any suspicious activities."
"We're not going to apprehend them?" Choji asked, hand still gripping the bag of potato chips.
Tsunade shook her head sharply. "No. The Twelve are all highly-skilled ninja who have abilities above your own. Do not engage them in battle. If the situation calls for it, request for reinforcements immediately." She strictly looked at the four Chūnin, her eyes were saying that if they do not follow orders, there will be hell to pay. "If there are no more questions, you will leave with the daimyo early tomorrow morning. Shikamaru, you're the squad leader for this mission. Dismissed."
Terumi followed the other three out with the mission in mind. Lost in thought, she didn't notice three pairs of eyes on her until the door was shut.
"It's nice to know there's another girl on the team." Terumi blinked when she realized Yamanaka Ino was speaking to her. "Now I don't have to clean up after their mess all by myself." She crinkled her nose at the boys' direction.
Choji tore the bag of chips open and began to stuff his mouth. "Don't scare her away, Ino," he said in between bites.
Ino glared at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" Terumi winced at her loud screech. She glanced furtively at the Hokage's office door, afraid that it would burst open. "If anything's gonna scare her, it's the mess you slobs make—"
"Uh, Yamanaka-san!" Ino stopped mid-sentence and looked at Terumi in surprise. "I think we should continue this conversation elsewhere." She gestured towards the door behind her. "We might disturb the Hokage."
Ino nodded in agreement, but not before throwing another glare at Choji. Without a word, Shikamaru languidly strolled away with hands in his pockets. They followed after him in silence, the only sound came from Choji's munching. Terumi used this as an opportunity to observe the Nara in front of her.
His posture was relaxed, to the point where his back was slightly hunched. His head was slightly turned upward and Terumi suspected he was actually staring at the ceiling. She copied his action, but there was nothing worth looking at on the scarlet surface.
She turned her attention to Ino and Choji, who were already having an animated conversation; it was as if Ino had never been annoyed at the round boy. She, Terumi decided, must be the quick to anger but also quick to forgive and forget type.
By the time they made it outside, Ino was laughing and Choji had finished eating his chips. Shikamaru was a little distance away from them and was still looking up, but this time at the morning sky. Terumi planned on quietly slipping away, but before she could take a step, Ino wrapped an arm over her shoulder.
"You know, you surprised me." she smiled. "I didn't think you knew my name. Were we put in the same team before?"
Terumi shook her head. "No. But I've heard of you, all three of you," she replied honestly. "Your team is sort of famous in my year, back when we were still in the academy."
Choji's eyes widened at her words. "Famous how?"
Ino stared intently as she waited for Terumi to answer. "Sensei always made Ino-Shika-Cho an example of teamwork and unity."
Ino's shoulders visibly slumped. "That's it?" She whined. "I thought boys talked about how gorgeous I am, or what a great kunoichi I am. Damn it!"
Terumi chuckled while Choji let out a hearty laugh. "You shouldn't have raised your hopes up, Ino." He put a hand to his stomach. "Anyway, I'm hungry. Let's eat ramen! C'mon Shikamaru," he called out to Shikamaru who was, shockingly, still around.
With his head turned towards the sky, Shikamaru spared a glance at his best friend. "Ramen for breakfast? You're starting to sound like Naruto," he commented drily, offering neither his approval nor disapproval on the idea.
Unfazed by his words, Choji clapped a hand on Shikamaru's shoulders. "Let's go, buddy," he said, which Shikamaru answered with a resigned shrug.
Ino rolled her blue eyes at her team mates. "Seriously, what am I going to do with you two?"
Completely ignoring Ino, Shikamaru turned to Terumi and spoke to her for the first time. "Wanna come?"
Terumi contemplated her answer for a few seconds. A part of her wanted to decline because she wasn't in the mood to socialize with people she barely knew, but another part of her argued that this was the perfect chance to get information on her teammates, which may prove useful for their mission. Reaching a decision, she nodded.
—
Walking in town with the most famous team in Konoha was a surreal experience for Terumi. There was Ino who was chattering nonstop next to her, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she was no longer listening. Then there was Choji and Shikamaru, who were slightly ahead of them and talking in low voices. Shikamaru must've said something funny because Choji suddenly burst out laughing, though Terumi could not fathom how a guy with a single expression could make another laugh so hard.
"They're best friends." Ino flashed her a knowing smile, and Terumi's face flushed in embarrassment at being caught.
"Sorry, Yamanaka-san," she muttered.
Ino airily waved her hand around. "Puh-lease. I'm used to people blocking me out because I talk too much." She shrugged. "And that's Ino for you, there's no need to be so formal. I'll call you Teru!"
Terumi smiled weakly. "Sorry, Ino. It's not because I don't like talking to you, really. I'm just not used to chatter."
Ino raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "Geez, you two are so alike."
Before Terumi could ask who she was referring to, they had arrived at Ichiraku Ramen.
Terumi stepped inside the restaurant and the first people she saw were Akito and Remi, desperately slurping down ramen like their lives depended on it.
She approached them. "What are you guys doing?" She asked, with confusion in her tone.
They paused at the sound of her voice, but neither stopped eating until their bowls were empty. "We're having a ramen-eating competition!" Remi blurt out enthusiastically before letting out a big burp.
"We're on our third bowl!" Akito proudly announced.
Terumi raised a hand to her face and let out a deep sigh, as if to say, I can't believe I'm in the same team as these two idiots.
Suddenly, Ino poked her head over Terumi's shoulder. "Are they your friends, Teru?"
Akito and Remi blinked at the unfamiliar face. "We are," Akito said uneasily. "Who are you?"
"These are my teammates, Akito and Remi," Terumi introduced to Ino, gesturing to the dark-haired Inuzuka boy and the blonde sitting across from him. "Guys, this is Yamanaka Ino." At the mention of her name, Akito's and Remi's mouths hung open in shock.
"Ino, as in..." Remi trailed off, and just stared at Terumi for confirmation.
She nodded. "As in Ino-Shika-Cho. I'm actually going on a mission with them tomorrow."
Ino grinned like a cheshire cat, then flipped her platinum blonde hair over her shoulder. "I guess we really are famous afterall. I'm gonna go tell Shikamaru and Choji," she said gleefully before running off.
"Please order a large miso ramen for me, Ino!" She called out after her.
"Okay!"
Akito shook his head in disbelief. "Wow. You're already so familiar with them."
She shrugged. "Not really. Ino's friendly, so I'm just going with the flow. I haven't really talked with the boys much."
"I'm so jealous!" Remi moaned. "Hardly anyone in our year got to go on missions with them." She sneaked a peek at the trio sitting casually at the counter. "You even get to eat with them! Not fair, Teru!"
"It's not like I asked for this," Terumi hissed under her breath. "And not so loud, they'll hear you." Even though she was annoyed at Remi's whining, Terumi could understand her reaction. She actually omitted a small detail when she answered Choji's question before.
She was telling the truth when she said the sensei often made Ino-Shika-Cho an example of exemplary teamwork, but even without that everyone knew how gorgeous Ino was, they'd heard of Choji's kindness, and they were definitely aware of Shikamaru's brilliance. Most of the class admired them, and this included Terumi.
Akito abruptly stood up and threw Remi a pointed look. "C'mon Remi. We shouldn't hang around while Teru's here. You're gonna have a meeting right?" He directed the question to Terumi. She didn't know if they were eating there for the sake of eating or for a quick meeting, but she nodded anyway.
Before leaving, Remi whispered a few parting words. "Come to my house when you're done here."
Once her teammates left the store, Terumi went over to the counter and sat next to Ino. In front of her was a piping hot bowl of ramen. Realizing that she was famished, Terumi quickly tucked in and absent-mindedly heard Choji yell, "Oji-san, another bowl please!"
Here's chapter two! I wanted the characters to interact a bit more with each other before the story officially starts. I hope you enjoyed!