A/N: So, you guys have reached my ultimatum for updating. I have decided not to push you guys to review, although you know what they say. "Updates come faster for those who review."

Disclaimer: You know the deal.

Sakura's eyes visably widened at the sight of the waterfall country when the couple entered. It was a beautiful sight, and it all seemed to center around a huge waterfall at the back of the village. It was gigactic.

The village iteself was no speck of dirt, either. The streets were paved with white cement, giving the village a clean, crisp look. There were canals of water running through, with miniature waterfalls going down steps, and small fountains bubbling up. Shikamaru couldn't help but wonder how they could afford all of this decoration, especially for a village that was always needing help. It was cooler here than in Konoha, thanks to the water. There were flowers and small trees in little oasis's on the corners.

The guard at the gate just nodded and let hem through. Standing in front of them when they entered was a man with dark blue hair, and brown eyes. "You are from Konoha, are you not?"

"Yes," Sakura said, voice full of amazement. "I wouldn't mind being the representative to this village," she mumbled under her breath. Shikamaru couldn't help but to agree with her. No matter how many times he mumbled about living a simple live i Konoha, he'd love to live here with Sakura.

"Alight then, follow me." The two shinobi started after the man, following him through the crowds. They arrived at a large building, and he went inside. They followed. He led them into an room, empty of life except one woman, who sat behind a desk. "Ame-sama, the Konoha ninja are here."

The woman looked up. Shikamaru noted she didn't look much older than them. "Right. Well, if you'll excuse us, Gen, I need to talk to them alone." The man, Gen, nodded, and left. "Hello, Konoha-nin. I am the leader of this village, Yashiro Ame." Sakura and Shikamaru bowed. "Please, sit down." She pointed to two empty chairs.

The two ninja sat, all the while watching the woman. "I trust you have no idea why you're here."

"We know that there are mysterious happenings, but why we were called and the details are still unknown to us."

She looked over at the spiky haired leader. "Speaking of which, I asked the Hokage for four, and yet there are only two of you."

"The other two had were sent to track down a ninja from our village staying here."

"Ah yes, Jiraiya-oji." Sakura looked at the girl with renewed interest.

"Jiraiya is your uncle?" the pink haired girl asked.

"Yes. My mother's brother. But that's besides the point. You are here to investigate an attack made on us a few weeks ago. Our ninja are not allowed to, or the village will be attacked again, and maybe destroyed. As my village is not on good terms with most of the other villages because of things that happened before I took over, I couldn't ask anyone. But luckily Jiraiya-oji said he could contact Tsunade-san for me, while still keeping inside the village."

"We tried sending messages earlier, but all of our ninja got killed. People can come in, but not out. Especially not our own ninja. So I begged my uncle to get a few ninja from Konoha, and he agreed. I think it would be easier for Konoha ninja to get in and out, especially since the attackers don't know you know of their attacks. They have my regular office being watched, and the ninja inside, who is using a Henge no Jutsu, being watched also."

"So, I need you to help my teams investigate. I asked for the fastest ninja, the ninja with the best ability to spy, the smartest, and the best medic. Tsunade said she couldn't promise all of that for what I could pay, but she could send her best chuunin that fit my requirements. I am hoping you all are the ones?"

"I guess we are, Ame-sama," Sakura replied.

"Yeah, Sakura here is the second best medic in our village." Sakura blushed at his comment. For some reason, hearing those words come out of his mouth made them sound so much better. "And Lee's so fast, all you can see is a blur when he gets going."

Ame noticed the small blush on the pink haired girls cheeks. "And our other teammate, Ino, has an ability that makes it easy to spy," Shikamaru finished.

"Ah, then what are you?"

"I'm the lazy good for nothing captain, that is just here to make sure that everyone else does their job," the Nara explained. Ame nodded. Sakura, however, didn't.

"Shikamaru is one of the smartest strategists in our village, and also one of the most handsome," that last bit escaped before Sakura could say anything. She clapped a hand over her mouth, and her whole face turned red. She looked out one of the small windows, trying not to let Shikamaru see her face.

Aw shit... I didn't actually say that, did I?

CHA! Inner Sakura yelled, pumping her fists into the air. He's hot and you know it, Sakura!

Regaining her composure, she turned back to see Shikamaru's race slightly red, and Ame smiling. But the leader turned back to her papers, and then looked up at the two, seriousness written all over her face. "I want you to start by walking through the village, looking for two people of these descriptions." She slid two files toward them. Shikamaru and Sakura looked them over. "These two were in the attacking party. Neither was killed, but we know they are here somewhere. Where, though, we have no idea."

One was a man, with short golden hair and silver eyes. He was supposed to be about 24 years old, with a scar on his left cheek. He had the middle finger on one hand cut off. He was shorter than Shikamaru. He was dangerous, according to the sheet of what he had done. It had a list of where he has been spotted in the past month. Shikamaru studied it. It seemed as though no one was able to stop him, not even some of the higher ranks of the village. Uh-oh...

Sakura's folder contained information of a woman with long purple hair. She had one blue eye, and one hazel-orange eye. Other than that, she was relatively normal. According to the sheet, she was a former Takigakure ninja. She also seemed to be taller than the man. She didn't seem to be really harmful; no killings were recorded under her name. She also seemed not to fight when the other ninja attacked, leaving it up to her partner.

"Any questions?" Ame asked, looking at the couple.

Sakura was the first to speak. "It says here that this woman was a former ninja of Takigakure. Why no name?"

"We don't know it."

"And you can't check your records?" The woman shook her head.

"We can't find anyone with her description in our records."

"Then how do you know she is from here?"

"She has one of the special jonin headbands, issued a few years back to some of our elite ninja. These are kept under guard, however." While Sakura and Ame talked, Shikamaru stared down at the file. Something was bugging him.

"Why did you want Konoha ninja, especially if your own couldn't handle it?" He spoke abruptly, interrupting their conversation. Ame looked at him in surprise.

"Well, Konoha is rumored to have the strongest shinobi. And they always boas about it, making other countries seem inadequate. I figured you would be able to help."

Shikamaru folded his arms, and leaned back in his chair. Stupid reputation...

"And, if you couldn't afford to pay for Jonin, then how can your village look so... expensive?" Sakura voiced the question that floated around in Shikamaru's head when he entered the village.

Ame flushed. "Our village used to be very great. There were tons of people who used to come to see the grandeur of the waterfall. There was tons of money coming in. But soon, the people stopped coming when my predecessor started attacking the other villages and the civilians for feudal lords and organizations. Our customers were so appalled, they stopped coming." She wasn't looking at them anymore, and Sakura could tell she wasn't proud of it.

"It's okay, Ame-san! We'll get these attackers, and help your village," Sakura grinned, and gave Ame the nice guy, or rather, nice girl pose.

Ame smiled, and dismissed them. Shikammaru and Sakura left the building. A few blocks away, Shikamaru grabbed Sakura's hand. "I could tell from your question you were thinking he same thing as me."

"Contacts?"

"And a fake scar."

"That would explain why they couldn't find any records of the girl."

"And how the guy gets around with no one finding them."

"Right. We'll start our search, then."

"Okay," Shikamaru responded as he started to walk down the street.

"Oh, and Shikamaru..." Sakura said, her face turning pink.

"Yeah?" He asked, without turning around.

"You really are the hottest ninja in the village," Sakura stated, turning away from him. She was embarrassed by her streak of boldness.

"I dunno, there seems to be one that's better looking than me," he said, a smug smirk on his face.

"Who?" Sakura turned, clearly confused.

"You know, for a genius, you can sure be dumb sometimes." Sakura recognized the line she had used on Shikamaru when they had started this plan.

When realization finally dawned on her, she grinned, and blushed a bit.

"I'm flattered."

"You should be," Shikamaru retorted, grin in tow. She gave him a playful shrug.

As they walked down the street together, searching for their targets, Ino and Rock Lee watched on.

"They're so cute together. I guess I was wrong about Sakura; she really does love him."

"And Shikamaru loves her back."

"Should we go help them?"

"Let us give them an hour for themselves. Then we will consult them. They need some time alone, no?"

"That they do, Lee. That they do."

A/N: It took a week and Sakura submitting to Inner Sakura for Shikamaru to forgiver her, and admit he loves her. In his own Shikamaru-y way. Remember to review!