Title: Another Mistake

Synopsis: The sequel to same mistake. This time the mistake isn't Ino's. InoxNaru and Sakux?

Disclaimer: "It's all been done before" – Barenaked Ladies (see even my disclaimer doesn't belong to me

Author: Nimacu

A/n Thank you to my two tiny reviews!

Naruto, Ino, Sakura and Chouji (who had also been promoted to Jounin) were celebrating at the barbeque restaurant (which had just recently li8fted the ban on Ino and Naruto's presence), Naruto had been slightly disappointed in his Jounin "ceremony", all that had he had been given this morning was a pile of paperwork and a pat on the head from the Hokage. In all honesty he'd expected more; maybe some candles or incense would have been nice. And really a secret handshake wasn't too much to ask for?

"I'm so proud of both of you" Ino told the new Jounin.

"I can't believe we both became Jounin before Shikamaru" Naruto commented

Chouji spoke for the first time "Well there's a reason for that."

"What? He turned it down because it was too troublesome?" This time it was Sakura who spoke

"Well, yeah actually he did." Chouji said with a mouth full of pork.

"I've known snails with more ambition that that man" Ino huffed as she too started eating.

"So have I" the group was surprised to notice that Aburame Shino had walked up behind them."

Naruto was excited to see another one of his friends on his "Special" day. "Shino! Come join us, we're having a special lunch to celebrate Chouji and I becoming Jounin."

"Well, since I did come to find you, it wouldn't be too much trouble to eat as well."

It was about fifteen minutes after Shino had joined them and they'd started eating when Naruto spoke. "Why are you looking for me?"

"I've heard that your new Jounin status was given to you at this time so that you could lead the mission to remove Sasuke from Orochimaru's hands."

"Yes, that's why it was rushed without the required number of Chuunin missions. But what does that have to do with you?" It didn't take keen powers of observation to notice that at the mention of the Uchiha's name the tension level at the table rose.

"I want to go"

"Why? It's a dangerous mission, we've failed before and if we fail again it will mean the end of Konoha"

"If you allow me to come we won't fail" The determination on Shino's face was absolute.

"I'd already planned on requesting you for the mission." Naruto looked pleased with himself, although when Sakura asked the next question the smile on his face froze.

"Naruto, who do you pan on taking with you?" Naruto cringed at Sakura's question, it was something he had though a lot about, and while Shino had made his list, Ino hadn't. He knew she wouldn't be happy with his decision and he'd been trying to come up with a sensitive way of telling her.

"Well…" Ino pushed when he didn't answer

"Shikamaru, Kiba, Neji, Lee, Chouji and Sakura"

When he hadn't listed his girlfriend's name the entire table tensed and Chouji mumbled something about how Ino's yelling always gave him indigestion.

"You don't want me on your team?" Ino's voice was much quieter than anyone expected, because although they knew Ino well no one realized how fragile her confidence was when it came to what Naruto thought of her.

"It's not that I don't want you on my team…" Naruto was going to continue before Ino interrupted him. "No, its ok, I understand. It's your team and you'll pick whoever you think is most suited to it." As she was saying this Ino got up from the table "I really have to go now, it's my shift at the flower shop" She gave Naruto a quick peck on the cheek and was gone before anyone could get over the shock of her compliance enough to say something.

"You should probably go talk to her" Sakura said as she elbowed Naruto in the gut

"Yeah, I'll see you guys later" And that he was off…

It didn't surprise Naruto so much to find Ino crying, he could see that she'd been close to tears in the restaurant. He'd been afraid that this might happen and yet at the same time surprised at how quietly she'd handled it.

"I didn't mean to make you cry."

"I know"

"Then why are you crying?"

"Because you don't think I'm good enough to go on your "precious" mission." Her voice was getting louder as she'd started to gain back some of her dignity, no matter how much she loved him he wasn't going to turn her into a blubbering fool"

"That's not way!"

"THEN WHY? AFRAID THAT I'LL CUT IN ON YOUR PRECIOUS SAKURA TIME!" Ino wasn't sure where that had come from; she hadn't even realized she was jealous of Sakura until just now.

Naruto had no idea that Ino was jealous of his time spent with Sakura. The fact that she might even suggest unfaithfulness mad him mad enough that he was unable to stop the next sentence that cam out of his mouth, a thought that although he knew to be untrue, still plagued him in his weaker moments. "NO, MAYBE I'M JUST WORRIED YOU"LL RUN OFF WITH SASUKE THE MINUTE WE GET HIM BACK!"

"CRASH!" Naruto barely dodged a vase of flowers

"GET OUT NOW!" "CRASH, CRASH, and BOOM" Two more vases' and the cash register.

"YOU CAN'T JUST ORDER ME OUT BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING OUR FIRST FIGHT!"

"OH YES I CAN! IF YOU WANT A GIRLFRIEND YOU CAN WALK ALL OVER GO FIND HINATAT!" "CRASH!"

"WELL IF YOU EXPECT TO HAVE A BOYFRIEND YOU CAN BOSS AROUND YO'D BETTER FIND AWAY TO SNAG SHIKAMARU!"

"Maybe I WILL" Ino had no intention of "snagging" Shikamaru,

"No you won't"

"And why not?"

"Because you love me!"

"Oh, well I've never been one to make the best judgments when it comes to love" The steam was going out of her anger.

"Would you like me to remind you why you love me?" He could tell she was calming down and he gave her one of what he thought of as his "disarming" smiles

"You could give it a shot." She didn't know how she could stay mad at him while he was standing there grinning like an idiot

"Because, I love you so much that I can't take you an S-Class mission because I'd be more worried about protecting you then accomplishing the objective."

"You love me that much?" She could help the smile that reached her face as she walked over to him sliding her arms around his middle.

"Yeah, pretty funny huh?" he murmured into her hair as they embraced.