The Great Exchange

By TheCrackShipper

Summary: AU It is War. The Five Great Nations are pitted against each other. The Tailed Beasts are prowling the night, destroying lives and adding to the Chaos. Alliances must be made. An arranged marriage fic of epic proportions.

A big thank you to Wedgits, xXHyuugaSakuraxX, Slyvixen, .'Sabaku No Annie.', Cool Anime Girl, MADDEST, swordbunny4486 for the reviews! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

AHH I MADE A HUGE MISTAKE THE PAIRINGS ARE SAKURA/NEJI KANKURO/TENTEN

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter 3

Ino dodged into the large make-shift tent, scars running up the length of her thighs, the war had taken its toll in many different ways.

"Status Report, Ino," her superior's voice held nothing but professional bluntness.

Ino narrowed her eyes at him, "The Two-tails is tearing up Sector 4 and a bunch of Iwao-nins are being retarded and trying to stop it," she flopped down, breathing heavily, "What else is new?"

The war was destroying them in more ways than one. Ino eyed Shikamaru sadly; maybe these arranged marriages could end this.

Chouji wasn't with them and he should have been. He couldn't walk, Chouji couldn't walk anymore. He lost his legs in a battle with a mist-nin. Now he ran a restaurant in Konoha, from his wheel chair.

"Shikamaru," Ino said softly, "It's me, Ino, I've known you since forever and you haven't said a word to me since the start of this disaster," Shikamaru sighed and took a long drag on his cigarette.

Chouji couldn't walk, Aburame Shino was in a coma, Rock Lee was dead, as well as Inuzuka Hana, Hatake Kakashi, and Ino's father. The world was screwed up.

Aburame Shino went in with a squadron to infiltrate Kirigakure and detonate their headquarters, he barely came out a live, his squad had turned on him.

Inuzuka Hana died defending the village against a Kumogakure ambush. Hatake Kakashi was now legendary; he took down 100 Iwao shinobi, before he was taken out. Rock Lee had died like a hero, his unfailing enthusiasm and courage shined through. The dead last that couldn't even use genjutsu or ninjutsu had held off the 4 tailed beasts.

"What is there to say Ino?" Shikamaru's cigarette hung limply from his hand as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. Anger sparked from her eyes, she glared at him.

"I'm leaving in three days Shikamaru," she whispered angrily, even though they were off duty they still had to be careful, "I'm leaving in 3 days to become the Kazekage's wife, I might never see you or Chouji again, but at least Chouji's had the common decency to show me that's he'll miss me," The blonde's eyes pricked with unshed tears, "You two are like my brothers, we've been through everything together, and now we're going to be separated," Her voice trembled. Shikamaru took her hand.

"Ino," his voice was familiar, comforting, "Nothing could ever break us apart, not beasts or war or marriage, we are Team InoShikaCho, we are a team," Her baby blue eyes let the tears flow.

"We're family,"

Ino lost all her restraint; she had always been emotional, to hell with professional shinobi's conduct. Right now she bawled like a baby.

"I'm scared," she confessed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, "I don't want to be a Suna kunoichi, I'm a Konoha kunoichi, I always have been and I always will be," she crossed her arms over her chest as though an imaginary draft had shaken the tent, "And Gaara of the sand was homicidal the last time I checked, I'm terrified,"

Shikamaru closed his eyes, "Yeah well I feel like a child molester, she's 5 years younger than me, she might not even have hit her period yet,"

Ino punched him on the arm half-heartedly, still trying to wipe away her tears.

"Tsunade-sama has her moving into my apartment once Sakura and Hinata are married to Neji and Sasuke," Shikamaru groaned, "The new couples must not be distracted from their baby making so I'm stuck baby sitting," he laid down on the ground and stared up at the ceiling of the tent, "I don't like teenage girls they're hormonal and weepy, and now I'm stuck with a hormonally imbalanced teenage fiancée,"

Ino snorted, "I still think that's better than a homicidal leader from a different village,"

Shikamaru held up the shrunken cigarette, inspecting it with a strange intensity.

"I beg to differ,"

Hinata sat in the hard chair they reserved for hospitals. Shino lie unconscious in the bed, pale white sheets covered him as bland as the rest of the room. She had attempted to spruce it up, but Kiba had stopped her. He had said it was depressing.

"Shino-kun," Hinata spoke as she normally did, she was convinced that he heard her whenever she spoke, "I'm marrying Uchiha Sasuke very soon," her lower lip trembled. The idea did not sit well with her. Uchiha Sasuke was incapable of feeling emotion, and the upcoming marriage felt as though it would be devoid of love, a mere political union.

"It's an arranged marriage," she added, aware that he might believe it was of her own free will.

"I'm frightened Shino-kun," she whispered, "Please wake up soon, Kiba and I, we miss you so much…" her voice faltered as she heard a knocking at the door. She rushed over and opened the door to see her other teammate. The death of his sister had killed Inuzuka Kiba. Inuzuka's were known for their loyalty, family was everything. The dark bags under his eyes had become a permanent addition to his features and his loud obnoxious personality was a thing of the the past. Inuzuka Kiba had grown up much too fast.

"That doesn't look like the face of a happy bride to be," Kiba brought his hand to her chin, than ruffled her hair. He was still clinging to a façade of normalcy, he was being brave.

Hinata was silent. Kiba understood and she was grateful.

"I don't love him Kiba-kun, I don't even think I can grow to love him, I can't love someone with no emotions," she whispered.

"Hinata," Kiba was serious, "You know where I live, seriously he gives you any problems you come to me, I'll deal with Uchiha,"

She smiled slightly, reassured.

Her boys would always be right behind her.

Haruno Sakura never left the battle field. As a primary medical nin she was constantly running from casualty to casualty, fixing whatever she could. Sometimes there was nothing that could be done. Her heart caught in her throat when she saw it was Sasuke she was treating. The thought of him engaged, was not a hurtful concept, but it was a strange one. His injuries were minor, and he was done quickly and ready for battle.

Naruto was already out in the fray. Her heart constricted when she thought of Naruto. The sunny boy of her childhood was no more. The war had hardened him. No longer was he optimistic, no longer was he hopeful, but he was now more determined than ever. These deaths would end. He would make them end.

Sakura sighed as she moved on to the next person. They wouldn't make it. Oh she fought of course, but the person rasped their final words.

"Konoha…"

Sakura wrapped the shinobi's eyes with a bandage and motioned for her juniors to move the body.

The thought of her boys being engaged was an almost laughable idea. Sasuke with Hinata, it was an odd combination, but she knew that Hinata was a sweet girl who would treat Sasuke well. In fact she was more worried about Hinata.

Naruto and Temari was an even odder combination. The girl was three years older than him though Naruto's height made him taller than Kakashi himself before the silver haired jonin had left to join his comrades. Sakura was always ready to cry when thought of her sensei came up, but somehow they were comforting tears. It was comforting to think that, at last, Kakashi was with his comrades. He was with Rin and Obito.

What really made her laugh was Naruto and Sasuke's reaction to Neji. Despite everything they were still overprotective of her. Sasuke had activated his sharingan and muttered death threats and Naruto tried to pass a petition around the village to stop her wedding.

The wedding.

The thought very nearly made her vomit. When she pictured future husband, it was NOT the arrogant Hyuuga prince. It should have been Naruto or Sasuke. But the Hyuuga clan? Hyuuga matriarch was not her idea of an honorable title. The wedding was drawing closer and closer.

She saw one of her juniors collapse, tears streaming down her face. The poor girl had snapped. Sakura wiped the dust off her hands and moved to do her job.

Somebody had to do it.

Neji had come to visit the memorial. It had nearly tripled in size since the start of the war, but one name jumped out at him, more so than any Hyuuga clan member.

Rock Lee

Freakin Idiot

Loser

Neji came to visit him everyday mission or no mission, because he had to keep reminding himself that he hated the moron. He hated him for being an idiot. He hated him for being selfless.

"Tenten and I are getting married and not to each other you spandex-clad freak, what do you have to say about that?" he felt like an idiot, yelling at the memorial.

"I'm marrying that girl you used to have a crush on, and Tenten's marrying that puppet guy with the make up from Sand Village and if you had any youth in you you'd be here instead of lost at the bottom of the ocean with nothing but your name carved in stone,"

He wanted to punch that stone, disintegrate it, but most of all he wanted his goofy green comrade here to remind him of better days when things weren't so messed up.

"D#mn you Lee," Neji clenched his fist. He was hurting right now; he was hurting more than after his fight with Kidomaru. He missed the loser.

"Neji?" Tenten questioned softly behind him. She was holding a bouquet of daffodils. She brought a bouquet for him everyday. She knew why Neji was here without words. They were still mourning.

"Will you bring the flowers after I'm gone?" it was not a question.

"Well someone has to," she couldn't see his eyes.

"I miss him," she said simply.

Neji said nothing.

"And Neji misses you too," she added to the memorial. The kunoichi ran her finger over the name, slowly as though savoring it.

"It's gonna kill me, not being able to visit him," Tenten turned to Neji, "We've been a bit broken up since he's been gone haven't we?"

"Two people don't make a three man team," Neji said sarcastically. Tenten smiled at him.

"Will you miss me?"

Neji stared at her blankly.

"Yes,"

"Will you write?"

"Of course,"

Tenten laughed, "Funny, you'd have never said that a year ago,"

Neji shrugged, "Times have changed,"

Tenten nodded, "We're gonna be parents,"

Neji shivered, the thought of having children with Haruno Sakura was not one he dwelt on, he'd rather get it over with.

"Don't forget me,"

She hugged him, tightly. He hugged her back.

Temari was packing early. She still could not believe it. All of them were engaged. Gaara was engaged to the blonde Yamanaka, and Kankuro was engaged to the girl she creamed in the Chunin exam.

And she was going to marry the Hokage.

She was going to be Fire Lady.

It killed her. She loved Suna with all her being. She was a Suna girl at heart.

Gaara and Kankuro entered the room.

"You're leaving," Gaara accused her attempting to hide his hurt.

"It's what's best for Suna," Temari tried bravely. She smiled at them and walked over, putting one arm around each of their shoulders, "You two are gonna be husbands, and dads,"

Kankuro groaned, "Don't remind me, at least Gaara got a hot chick,"

Gaara colored slightly.

"Temari,'" he said slowly, "I want to thank you for all that you've done for us," The red head looked down, too embarrassed to meet her eye, "You were like a mother to me…nee-chan," It was the fist time he had ever called her nee-chan,"

Temari could feel tears in her eyes as she pulled her younger brothers into a group hug. These idiots would kill themselves. Those girls better treat them right. They might be idiots, but they were good boys whose hearts could easily be broken.

"Don't get all sappy on us, Temari," Kankuro tried to slide his sister's arms off but she merely tightened her hold.

"Write me everyday," She instructed bossily, "And make sure to wash your underpants, and eat healthy, and keep the house clean,"

Kankuro rolled his eyes, "Yes mom,"

Gaara stared out the window. This upcoming union was making him nervous.

He was getting a wife.

A/N: Sorry if this chapter was boring. I had to explain a few things before I could move on with the plot. The pairings again are Sakura/Neji, Hinata/Sasuke, Temari/Naruto, Ino/Gaara, Tenten/Kankuro, and Hanabi/Shikamaru. To answer a question I won't be focusing on one pairing but I'll show a bit of every pairing.

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