Shikamaru looked at the map in irritation, where was the entrance? And how were they supposed to get into the country without being noticed? They were travelling in such a big group and were sure to be noticed. Were they supposed to break into the city and steal back the scroll? He glanced around the thick walls and narrowed his eyes. Ino stood beside him, her hands placed firmly on her hips.

"I think we should wait for it to get dark." Naruto suggested. Shikamaru shook his head automatically.

"We're leaving in an hour's time. Rest now, we're breaking in." He instructed, walking away with Ino following behind. Naruto stamped his foot.

"Why not!" he cried.

"There will be more people on lookout at night." Sasuke's tone implied Naruto was being stupid again. Naruto didn't bother to counter the unsaid insult as he too, walked away. TenTen cringed and turned away, conflict much?

Ino glanced back once and caught Sasuke staring at her, she grinned and waved. Turning back around, she froze. Shikamaru was staring at her from a distance that could barely be called a distance. He rested his arm on the tree as he looked down at her. Shikamaru glared past his girlfriend to glare at the Uchiha who ignored the shadow manipulator completely. Shikamaru snapped back to attention when Ino kissed him, a short small kiss. She grinned at him and he couldn't help but smile back.

"We only have an hour?" He murmured against her lips as he leaned towards her again. She laughed, her hand sliding up to cup his face.

"That's long enough, no?" She wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him towards her.

"No,"

TenTen sat down next to Naruto as he stared at the single flower in bloom in front of him.

"Hi, TenTen." He greeted, without looking at her once. She didn't say anything, and there they sat in comfortable silence as they waited for the hour to past. Hidden beneath the trees, Hyuuga Neji destroyed trees as silently as he could with his chakra infused hands. There was something wrong with him; he was losing focus, losing concentration. Losing his cool composure, losing everything. Growling, he punched a tree and watched it with hardened eyes as it fell defenceless to the ground. It kicked up a storm of dust and Neji clicked his tongue in irritation. He glared around his surroundings, activating his Byakugan in the same second. What were they doing? Sitting around and doing nothing. What a bunch of fools, shouldn't they be training now?

He paused when he caught sight of Ino and Shikamaru in the trees. He couldn't hear them, but their actions alone told him that they wanted to be left alone in their private little intimate moment. Neji clenched his first and peeled his eyes away from the romantic sight and his eyes fixed on his partner. She laughed quietly when Naruto tried to cheer her up, why was she even upset to begin with? Her little brown buns were stuck to her head like always, he turned away in disgust. He hated those buns.

But he couldn't seem to stay away.

Shikamaru chuckled softly when Ino sprang away from him and began walking away slowly. Glancing back once just to give him a winning smile and to make sure he was following her. Of course he was following her, he'd follow her anywhere.

"So what are we going to do about breaking in?" Ino asked, snaking her arms around his neck and pulling him down again for a kiss. Shikamaru just about melted right there and there, but he couldn't, how else was he going to get another kiss?

"I'll think of something." He shrugged, jerking her closer to him. She laughed and flicked his head.

"We don't have much time, Shika."

"I'm a genius remember?" he said, a sly smile creeping up his lips.

To TenTen's irritation, the hour was taking much longer than she expected. Leaving the blond to himself she got up to wander around. She pushed her hands into her pockets as she walked through the growing forest. Where was Neji? He wasn't at the clearing with the rest. If she remembered correctly, he headed this way... In her opinion, Neji was the closest to Sasuke in character, intensely private, brooding, and inclined to probe beneath the surface. Both suspicious by nature. Yet while Sasuke tended to be a creature of mood and instinct, Neji was reflective and scholarly. Maybe a little too reflective.

TenTen stopped in surprise when a mass of tumbled trees came into sight. Neji. She frowned glancing around.

"Neji!" she yelled, stepping over a bark. Her voice echoed through the forest. She sucked in a breath, jumping to leap over an enormous. She gasped in surprise when he foot got caught and she was flung back forcefully. She squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation. She hit his toned arms. Hard. He body jerked back in surprise as she twisted to turn around.

Neji.

I sincerely apologize for the extremely short chapter. No, I'm not starting a NejiTen anymore. There's no time! I'm so extremely loaded with school work it's driving me nuts. I'm sorry, very, very sorry for the extremely late post. You have the right to shake your fist at me. I'm sorry! Review as usual, unless you're angry...