Naruto was the quickest to react to the noise, flashing the hand sign of the ram, he shouted, "kage bunshin no jutsu!" Hundreds of Naruto clones appeared and pounced upon the spot the sound came from. "hakkesho kaiten." a calm voice announced below the pile of clones. Suddenly, one after another, the clones began dispersing into clouds until none remained. All that remained of the pile was a man with long, black hair, a loose sleeved white robe top, matching pants, and dark grey apron around his waist. When he looked up, the obvious kekkei genkai of the Hyuga clan were present.

"AH! Neji-san!" announced an overly ecstatic Lee. Lee jumped straight towards Neji, and immediately grasped his hands and bowed. "What brings you to our fine encampment?" enquired an almost confused Shikamaru. "Lady Hokage sent an anbu messenger at the completion of my last mission. It would seem my abilities may be of use on this rescue mission."

"Are you aware of the mission details?" Shikamaru refused to let anything stop this mission's success. "Indeed, Lady Hokage made sure I understood the significance." Shikamaru allowed a smirk to cross his lips. This interesting change of events added a trump card to their team, and it allowed for some modifications to Shikamaru's plan. For the first time since the start, Shikamaru was feeling optimistic.

"Really simple. Naruto, you, Kiba, and Neji will be team one. Your new aliases are Heero, Duo, and Treze, respectively. If you draw the attention of any villagers, you are simply travelers passing through. I'll leave it up to you to fabricate your stories. Lee, Ino, and Choji, you guys will be team two. Your job is to become part of the village, learn anything you can. Aliases will be Liu, Katana, and Boraicho. I'll do what I do best and stick to the shadows; I'll be going by Kumori. If anyone finds anything that can aid us, contact the others immediately."

As Shikamaru barked out his final orders, they could see the village just on the horizon. The shadow user knew this would be a good spot to split up and adjust the squads pace. Team one would enter from the south first, followed by at almost the same time, team two from the west leaving Shikamaru to enter from the south several hours after. As Naruto and team one took off on a slow walk, team two shot off a bit quicker, leaving Shikamaru to plop down against a tree to nap. With a sigh, Shikamaru's final thoughts rested on a bushy haired girl before he dozed off.

Spikey yellow hair and whisker like markings are hard to miss when you add those attributes to a boy wearing a bright orange jumpsuit, how Naruto managed to be a shinobi was beyond Kiba. He had decided to be the rear guard, his high sense of smell rather useful for detecting ambush. Neji lead the group towards the gates, Byakugan activated under a wrapping covering his eyes. The Hyuga had decided it would be much more covert to act blind to keep his Byakugan out of the view of prying eyes, or eyes who were watching for tell-tale signs of shinobi. One thing was for sure, most in the land of fire knew a Hyuga by their unmistakable pupil-less eyes and almost grotesque veins.

As the trio reached the southern gate, all traces of their real identities were completely invisible to the outside world. They became their aliases. Even Naruto managed to pull it together and become Heero, a rash, abrasive, yet mildly levelheaded young man.

The fox boy had managed to find a rather cheap motel of sorts for the group, one room would house team one, another on the floor above would house team two. Shikamaru, or rather Kumori, had decided he would prefer a closer living quarters to where his desert rose was currently held captive.

Naruto's first action upon entering the establishment was locating the nearest vendor of his wonderful favorite food, ramen. "Nej..I mean Treze! I found it! The old man said they sell ramen at a stand a block away, what do you say me, you, and Duo grab a bite to eat! I mean, we just traveled here on nothing but ration bars and berries. I think I might be dying of ramen deficiency." "Hey, dumbass, Ino and Choji cooked a rather impressive meal remember?" Kiba made sure Naruto heard as he punched the top of his head.

Neji could feel the pity in the look the blonde gave him and couldn't help but feel as though the guy really could die from missing his unhealthy addiction. With a resounding sigh, Neji agreed with a nod. "I'll stay here, just bring me back some meat. Akumara and I are just gonna settle in." "Very well Duo. I shall bring back two rare steaks for the two of you. Heero, as I am blind, I'll require guidance to our destination." With a large, toothy grin, Naruto let out a resounding 'WHOOP' and took off out the door, dragging the poor Hyuga by his kimono sleeve. "Heh, I wonder if Naruto can keep up the charade out there.." "Bark!"

Team two had arrived and checked into the "motel" around fifteen minutes after team one. In fact, Choji and Lee had passed Naruto and Neji in the hall, steeling a stern look and small nod between the two. Soon after, the room had already been claimed into thirds, the large bed claimed by Ino before they had even arrived, leaving Lee to fight Choji over the pullout couch or the floor. Lee continued to give a long winded monologue on why the floor was perfect for him, allowing him to wake up at first light to begin the day with five hundred pushups and one thousand situps. Choji just listened intently eyes nearly closed from his smile as he munched on chips

During Lee's speech, Ino slipped out to shop for groceries. She decided to take the small shopping trip as a chance to explore the small village. Starting from the west gate, she already knew the pretty straight path to the small hotel was lined with random shops and decent living quarters. She could see the top of the rather large manor that the intel marked as Kenji's quarters. From the looks of the stylish tiles and lavish jade dragons on the corners, it was obvious the owner was massively wealthy and powerful.

Ino looked away down the street that would lead her southeast, towards what was no doubt the street she needed based on the bustling crowds and wonderful aromas escaping it. As she began her small journey down the street, the look of awe was transfixed on Ino's beautiful face. She saw so many kinds of people, shops of all colors and sizes selling items and food looking so exotic despite being within the same country. An old lady smiled at Ino and offered to guide her to what she was looking for. As she followed the kind lady, Ino glanced back and forth at the looks of happiness on all the villager's faces. As the young kunoichi walked, she would stop and pick up a few things and pay the merchant, who in turn would thank her with a large grin. It was the same routine over and over, and by the end of her shopping trip, Ino was beginning to feel a slight unease. Team Tema had only been gone a few days and the blonde was ready for the full emotional spectrum of Konoha's market.

As she returned towards the motel, grocery bags filling up her full grasp, Ino could not help but chuckle a little to herself. Seeing the young children running around, the mothers and fathers working and talking, she felt as though the mission may have been to the wrong village. This village was just too peaceful and kind. Then, as if a wall of darkened emotions hit her, Ino remember that Shikamaru was leading. This meant, to her at least, that all intel was spot on. The flower shop girl knew just how much Temari meant to her teammate, just by that one look she had witnessed in the forest.

It was as Ino got to the door to her team's room that she resolved herself. 'I promise Shikamaru, we will get her back'. Ino proceeded to enter the room to see Lee challenging himself to rather moronic training exercises, if you could call them that. Just as her mood came crashing into irritation, she saw her other beloved teammate, her chubby wall of protection, at the kitchen table with another bag of chips. The moment Choji noticed Ino enter, he immediately showed her the largest of bright smiles that only the Akimichi was capable. This instantly brought a smile to her face, as well as an undetected flutter to her heart.

By the time Lee had finished his so called training, Choji had decided to retire to the pullout couch, leaving Ino and Lee to sip tea at the kitchen table. Lee kept looking as though he was contemplating the world, so Ino allowed her gaze to land on whatever it may. To no one's surprise but her own, that gaze from her beautiful blue eyes fell on the back of the couch.

"Ino-chan, though it may not be my place…" Lee began and then stopped, going right back to looking like he was solving the meaning of life. "Lee, it's okay, what's up?" "Well, it would appear you have a very strong bond with Choji-san. I mean no disrespect but should you not tell Choji-san how much he really means?" With that start, Ino immediately felt warmth spread over her cheeks. "I am not well versed in the matters of the heart, however by the way you seem to look at our friend, I would just suggest you let him know. Whether he accepts it or not does not matter. Though I know Sakura only sees me as a friend, she also knows how much I care for her and that in itself is solace." And with that Lee stood, bowed in thanks for the tea, and headed to his makeshift sleeping area.

Ino sat shocked with a blush on her face. She had known Lee long enough to understand him, and yet this speech from him, these words of wisdom, were so incredibly wise to her. The Yamanaka was impressed at how observant and knowledgeable her bushy brow friend was. Ino finished her tea and headed to the bedroom with one last look at the brown hair peeking out of the covers on the pullout couch. Maybe Lee was right.

"Seriously Akamaru, I understand you're bored, but come on buddy, they're gonna bring back some food." Kiba tried to bargain with Akamaru, as the dog continued to look pathetic and pouty at the door. With one final whimper, as though the ninken knew it was the breaking point, Kiba finally dropped his head in defeat. "Very well, but if we don't run into bitches you're in the dog house buddy." The dog master, though human, had a remarkable amount of canine qualities, which would include all senses and primal desires.

As the pair began their trek down the hall, a familiar smell caught the Inuzuka's nose. This particular scent was rash, violent, and yet rather comforting, familiar somehow. Despite his curiosity being peaked, Kiba decided to ignore it and continue on towards the exit with Akamaru, only to just miss the source of that bittersweet aroma.

The moon had risen to light up the dark sky as the Inuzuka pair marched along the streets, taking in the sights and smells and sounds. That was Kiba's favorite part, the unique smells and sounds. Each individual person has a unique aroma, each individual's own set of movements producing unique sounds. Despite all of the wonderfully new smells, the one he had smelled in the motel. Kiba just could not put his nose on it.

When Akamaru began to slow, crouching into an almost attack like position, Kiba was forced out of invading the deep recesses of his brain for the answer and back to reality. "What is it Akamaru?" Akamaru let out a low growl, barely audible to even Kiba. Ninken like Akamaru had an acute sense of chakra and the strength of the owner of said chakra. This ability was on full tilt since their entering of the village.

Kiba, finally according to his inner mind, noticed two wafting smells of old blood. It was then he noticed what Akamaru had long ago, two missing-nins walking on the opposite side of the , they were too caught up in discussing past kills and the sake stench flowing from them calmed him. "Heh, doesn't seem like it's too serious huh Akamaru?" Kiba whispered as he patted his canine companion's head to calm him from his sudden outburst. "I guess we should head back before we screw up huh buddy?" With that, Kiba and Akamaru took off in a rather quickened pace back the way they came.

Upon entering the motel, Kiba took a rather large sniff in hoping to catch that scent once again. He was not sure why, but he loved the smell. He knew it from somewhere but it continued to elude him. Akamaru could tell it bothered the young Inuzuka to not know where it was from, so the dog took it upon himself to lead Kiba back to the room, taking whichever way the smell flowed strongest.

When they reached their room, Kiba took one last look down the hallway as he opened the door. He stopped and stared as he caught the retreating end of red hair entering another room far down the hall. 'That couldn't have been her, she has no business here. HA my imagination takin' over.' Kiba let out a sigh, dropped his head in defeat and entered the room.


"kage bunshin no jutsu" - Shadow Clone Jutsu

"hakkesho kaiten" - Eight Trigrams Palm Revolving Heaven

Kumori (Shikamaru's codename) - Shadow

SO chapter two is rough cut, however The next two chapters will focus on Temari and Shikamaru respectfully. Hope you guys don't rip me apart for this one though haha (seriously though please don't? PRETTY PLEASE?!) Well, I've recently become a HUGE fan of Kiba and a certain red head kunoichi together and well it's high time the Inuzuka's get what they deserve! Again, my OTP is and always will be ShikaTema, but there is room in this story for a couple of pairings (even a cracked one mwahahah)

well this chapter came faster than expected however you can still expect another one next week (It'll be better and more exciting I promise)! FOLLOW FAVORITE REVIEW DO YOUR THING! Thanks guys and gals.