Sand in the Pants
Part 2
Of Poison and Petals

"Shortly after he slipped into the coma he died." Ino told her pink haired rival, a smug smirk on her fair features.

"All that from a little rhubarb?" Sakura asked with disbelief.

"It wasn't just a little rhubarb, I concentrated all the poisons so I only have to use a little. And since the cooks served him rhubarb pie, thanks to my power of suggestion, it doesn't look so suspicious. Besides rhubarb isn't like other organic poisons anyway. Its more like heavy metal poisoning, you should know at least that." She chastised her friend, hiding the fact that she was proud of her knowledge in this area. She had finally bested Sakura, if only in one area.

But Ino remembered, without lingering bitterness, that it hadn't always been the case.

"Ino, what are you doing out here by yourself?" asked the familiar voice of Shizune from behind. The blonde quickly wiped away the tears trailing down her soft cheeks.

"Nothing,." she replied weakly, she couldn't find the ambition to be strong at the moment. What was the point. She was being left in the dust by her rival; and there was no way to deny it after that last test Godaime had administered. She'd done better then the others, but the only person she cared about beating was Sakura. And she was so far beyond Ino, that it looked like it would be impossible for her to catch up.

"Its about that test isn't it?" Shizune asked.

Being confronted with it aloud was all Ino could take. The tears started to flow once again, uncontrollably so. "I can't beat her. There was a time, when I was so far ahead of her, that I was arrogant enough to think she would never be able to catch me. But now its the opposite, how am I suppose to keep my promises to Asuma-sensei! How am I suppose to take care of Chouji and Shikamaru? How am I going to beat Sakura! I don't like to admit it, but I'm . . .useless." She confessed, burying her face in her hands and sobbing into them without restraint. What good would that do her now?

"Your right, if you keep following after Sakura like you are; you'll never catch up," she said, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "There is more then one path to becoming useful. You can never be a formidable shinobi by following another's path. You have to make your own."

Ino wiped her tears away, and looked up at the dark haired Jounin. "I wouldn't even know where to start."

"Well you have your mind techniques. That is something that Sakura definitely cannot do,"

"Those are useless on their own in actual combat. I usually can only use it when combined with Shikamaru-san's jutsu."

"You know there was one exam where you scored a great deal higher then Sakura."

"I remember that, it was easy. It was all plant related, which were poisonous, and which could be useful to a med-nin."

"See Ino, you shouldn't doubt yourself." Shizune smiled at her brightly

"Sakura pulled poison out of the Kazekage's brother and created an antidote. A poison I might add couldn't be neutralized by Suna's top poison experts. So I know about flowers and plants, I'm just as useless."

Shizune pulled a vial from her belt pouch, and offered it to the girl, who hesitantly took it and cradled it in her hands. "But if Sasori had done his job correctly, Sakura would never have had the chance to save that nin. That is some of the poison I use for my weapons,"

"Shizune-san, I couldn't take this."

"Its only my basic mixture, but I'll tell you that everything in that vial is from a plant or flower. So I want you to take that and remember one thing; not every flower is useless."

This flower is toxic, she thought to herself as the flash of that memory washed over her. That had all happened four years ago, the day she had set out on her own path. She had become a Jounin since, at the same time Sakura did. Her reverie wasn't noticed by Sakura, and if it was the pink haired kunoichi made no comment. "I have to be going Sakura, Hokage-Sama wanted to see me. Probably yet another mission." she flaunted, her string of missions now a days were never ending it seemed. Her abilities, along with her social graces had made her a desirable spy and espionage agent. "Have fun with your rounds at the hospital." she waved, working at the hospital was Sakura's thing. Ino was convinced she even enjoyed it. As far as Ino was concerned she could keep it. Her missions were usually the fun kind anyway.

"I'm being sent to Sand?" she asked, dumbfounded by the mission that the Hokage had just given her.

"You object?" The older woman asked lifting a graceful blonde eyebrow, honey brown eyes staring into her.

"No, its just that Shikamaru-san is usually the one that handles issues with Suna, when Suna's liaison is in Konoha anyway. I don't have much experience with the Sand Shinobi." She was careful not to use the woman's name, because it always sounded like venom when she spoke it.

"They have requested you specifically because of your techniques. And they are paying quite highly for your services, and of course that this is handled with the utmost secrecy." Tsunade paused to take a sip of her tea, and moisten her dry palette. "Your escort will be here any moment, they will also be your partner for the mission."

"Escort? That was nice of them to send one for me. It will be my first time in Wind Country after all." Ino was getting excited by this travel opportunity. "But I'm not used to working with strangers."

"It isn't a complete stranger, I think you might even know them."

Her eyes opened wide, the look could have been described as terror. She might not be a genius like her teammate Shikamaru, but she wasn't in anyway stupid. She knew few people from Suna, and only one made regular trips between the two villages. Fate had twisted this promising excitement by placing her with the only Sand Shinobi she hated. "Its Temari-san is it?" her tone had lost all its jubilation.

"Good guess, " Ino tensed. The voice was vaguely familiar, but it was definitely male. "But that's going to be your first strike." Ino turned towards the door. She was confronted by the image of a large man in all black, purple lines painted proudly on his strong face.

"This is your escort, you might remember him as Kankuro."

"Hn," was all she could mutter

Goomba Note: Where you hoping for Temari? There will be a confrontation later. So I promise Temari action later. Please read and review, even if its just to say I like it, or you hated it. I hope to update again real soon.

Oh and if your curious, the model of Adult Ino I have in mind while I'm writing is in my profile.