Hello peoples!! It's a Friday night and I'm ready to write more for my fanfic!! Thank you sooo much to the people who reviewed and favorited me! Idk if favorited is a word but oh well... I just had coffee so it's not my fault I'm hyper. Sorry, hee hee...anyways here's chapter 3!! I sincerely apologize for the wait but thank you so much to those who still review!! Love you!!

Chapter 3: A New Disguise and an Unknown Enemy?

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"Who's first...," she asked eyeing them both.

Sakura looked at Shikamaru then stepped forward.

"I guess I'll go first...," she said nervously. She didn't know what Tsunade had planned for her.

Tsunade smiled.

"I'm glad you're going first at least one of you two has guts," she smirked. Shikamaru rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. Sakura had to laugh. He looked like he was cursing her off in his mind. He probably knows what would happen to him if he said them out loud to the Hokage.

'Off with his head!'

'Uh...no. He releases Tsunade's anger.'

'Oh right...'

Sakura shook her head and looked up at Tsunade. She was scanning through the thick book with a genuine look.

"Since your hair is short Sakura, I can make it longer and then change the color," she explained with her eyes still glued to the page.

"...How about my eyes," Sakura asked disappointed. She loved her pink hair and her emerald green eyes. It made her different from other girls.

"Well, we'll see how it looks with your different hair first. You may not be recognizable," Tsunade said gathering a scroll. She bit her finger making it bleed. She made a seal on the page and looked at Sakura.

"Ready," she asked beginning a hand seal. Sakura nodded and closed her eyes. Tsunade made a few more hand signs and placed a hand on Sakura head focusing hard.

Shikamaru watched in fascination as Sakura hair grew longer and grew a deep shade of red.

'That's amazing. What kind of jutsu is that?'

Sakura opened her eyes and took a strand of her hair. She stroked it over and over again. Her hair was a shade of red.

"How did you...do that," she asked astonished.

"It's simple really. All I had to do was focus a certain amount of chakra into the roots of your hair and it changes to the amount of chakra applied," she said smiling slightly then turning a few pages looking through the book again.

"My turn? Can you tell me what color hair you're giving me? I don't want green hair...," Shikamaru said irritated. He started rubbing the back of his neck.

"Alright stop being so fussy. Be a man," Tsunade said in a low voice picking a page. Shikamaru scoffed and walked forward shoving his hands into his pockets. Sakura twirled her hair loving its length. Deep red actually looked nice on her.

'I like it' she thought smiling.

Tsunade closed the book. Shikamaru looked on.

"Aren't you going to change my appearance," he asked.

"I am just not in color. I think I should cut your hair and maybe change your eyes," She said placing the leather book back on the shelf. Shikamaru sighed and takes a piece of his hair.

"Goodbye," he says quietly to the lock. Sakura suppressed a laugh and turned to Tsunade.

"When do we leave and how are we going into the village," she asks sincerely.

"I think you two will have to go in as newly weds. It works the best as undercover purposes," Tsunade said smirking slightly. Sure she needed these two for the mission but she had something in mind for her apprentice. Sakura looked curiously at her teacher but shook it off.

Tsunade took out a kunai and gave it to Shikamaru.

"I'll let you cut your hair but, it has to be shorter than the length it is. No ponytail," she said sternly.

"Fine...Do I get a mirror or can I have it done by the time the mission starts," he asked not wanting to cut off his hair...yet.

"By tomorrow. That's when the mission starts," Tsunade replied.

"Tomorrow?! Why tomorrow? Don't we have to pack and all," Sakura asked frantically.

'And Sasuke wanted to meet me at Ichiraku!'

'Tough luck.'

'CHA!!'

"This mission may take a while so you are going to move into a house there or an inn first. There is someone there who will contact you and tell you that the house is ready. Your names are Kiku Tanaka and Jiro Okinawa. Is that clear? You two should also find jobs. Be packed by tomorrow morning at seven and get ready to head out. Dismissed," Tsunade said clearly.

Shikamaru's mouth was open slightly. Sakura's face was complete shock.

"This mission is top priority. People's lives are in danger. Be ready. See you too tomorrow. Oh and by the way I'll need your headbands..." Tsunade replied to their shocked faces. Sakura untied the head from her now red hair and gave it to Tsunade. Shikamaru untied his from around his arm and gave it to her as well.

"Dismissed," Tsunade said firmly putting the headbands into an anonymous drawer in her desk. The two bowed and turned to leave.

"Oh, and Nara..." Shikamaru looked at her over his shoulder, "I want it cut by tomorrow," Tsunade emphasized by for him to get her meaning. Sakura opened the door and left.

"Of course Hokage-sama," He smirked shoving his hands into his pockets and left.

"If it's not cut by tomorrow so help me Kami..." Tsunade muttered into her hand as she leaned her head on it for support. Tsunade turned her chair towards the back of the room where a large file cabinet is present. She opens a draw and looks through the letters in which they are ordered.

'U...U...U...Uchiha!'

She pulls out a file on the Uchiha clan. She searches through to the last profile. Uchiha Sasuke.

Tsunade reads through his profile coming to the part of when he leaves with Orochimaru. The space is empty.

'No...Not good...'

Tsunade rubs her temples thinking quietly to herself.

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Sakura walked quietly through the halls staggering slightly. She was feeling rather dizzy.

'Shishou...didn't say anything...about...side affects...'

Sakura stopped for a moment to lean on a wall.

"What's...wrong with me," she asked to no one.

"Sakura," asked a male voice. Sakura snapped her head up.

"Shikamaru," she asked squinting to see in the dimly lit hospital.

"Yeah, do you want me to walk you home? You seem exhausted," He asked, concern showing on his face instead of his usually present scowl. Sakura however could barely see his face in the poor lighting.

"Arigato but I'm fine really. Just a long day of work in the hospital," she said standing up straight once again to reassure him.

"Alright. Take it easy. I'll see you tomorrow," he continued on his way. Sakura stood still in her place listening to his shuffling feet as he walked on. Sakura began walking down the hall to the exit.

'Somehow, he's actually a good friend...'

'Pssh...Somehow...'

Sakura made her way out the exit and started toward her home. It was pretty late. Not many shops stayed open this late and few civilians stayed out. It was almost creepy. There were hardly any street lights. Maybe one or two coming and going to her apartment. It was quite a walk. A long dark walk down a vacant street. She didn't know what or who it was but she felt like she was being followed.

'Oh, I'm a ninja for Kami's sake! I can handle anything...'

'But you're tired...'

'What idiot attacks someone from their own village hmm?'

Sakura continued on her walk. She heard a slight whizzing sound and suddenly matched it to the sound of a launched kunai. She snapped her head to the side and stepped backward just in time.

'Apparently...that idiot...'

Sakura ignored her inner self and took out a kunai from her pouch. She staggered a little and groaned lightly as he vision became blurry for a slight second. She shook her head and looked around for her attacker. A person stepped out from the shadows and took a stance. She couldn't see the person's face. She hated when they did that! Always covering their faces! Sakura waited for it to attack but it didn't. She was puzzled but launched a kunai toward a vital point. The kunai went through the person. Or so she thought.

The person appeared in front of her and punched her in the stomach. Sakura stumbled back putting distance between them. It was a big mistake. Her shirt got caught in a chain link fence that was broken and was jutting out.

'Damn...I should've seen that!'

She tried to wiggle her way off but she was firmly stuck in place. The attacker raises their kunai about to slice her flesh. Sakura shuts her eyes tightly waiting for the feel of the cool metal running over her skin and the excruciating pain. But it didn't come it was as if the person was frozen.

"Tsk. Attacking a girl in the middle of the night? That's pretty low..." said a masculine voice. Sakura moved her head around the person to see Shikamaru. She was never happier to see him.

"I'll see you soon blossom," said the person's voice. It was hard to determine whether or not it was a girl or boy. The person disappeared in a puff of smoke. Shikamaru released his justu and walked over to Sakura.

"Why did you follow me," she asked a little too harsh then she meant to. Shikamaru stared at the fence behind her.

"I wanted to make sure you got home safely..." he said softly. Sakura was taken back. He was being nice. His tone of voice changed to a kinder one. Sakura began to feel dizzy once again as her vision blurred. She didn't know why she was feeling this way. Maybe it was exhaustion or maybe it was something else. Sakura couldn't keep her eyes from closing as the world turned into a black abyss. Shikamaru knew that was going to happen by the way her eyes began drooping. He caught her right on cue. He untangled her shirt from the wire leaning her limp body against him. Then, picks her up bridal style and thinks for a place to go.

He can't go to Sakura's house he doesn't have her keys. Heck he didn't even know where she lived!

'To my apartment I suppose...She's going to kill me tomorrow. What a drag!'

He took a long sigh and started toward his apartment.

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Shikamaru fished around in his pocket for his keys. He picks out the orange one and unlocks the door.

'Why did I let Naruto pick the color of my key holder?'

He hears a click and twists the door handle open while kicking the door open. He shuts it again with his foot and places Sakura on the couch. He walks into his room and looks around for some clothes to sleep in. After he changes his clothes he takes Sakura once again and lays her on his bed. He places the blankets over her and steps back looking at her peaceful form. He watches her breathe silently and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.

He pulls his hand back quickly.

'Why did I do that? Okay just forget that happened...'

Shikamaru goes to the closet and pulls out an extra pillow and blanket. He walks back into the living room and throws them on the couch. He walks into the bathroom and looks in the mirror.

He pulls out his ponytail and shakes out his hair.

"Ugh...I may as well cut it now..." he says annoyed. He pulls out the kunai Tsunade gave to him and cuts off a piece to his ear. His eyes go wide.

'I can't cut it I'm going to look so weird!'

He groans and remembers what Tsunade told him. He sighs a loud.

"For the mission..." he says quietly and continues to cut his hair.

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idk if that was a good chapter...sorry if it's a little short!! I'm trying to get a lot of chapters up!! I hope u still like it!! Read & Review Thank You!!

-Jes