Shizu ran for about an hour before collapsing in the underbrush on the border of Sand and Fire. He knew sand nin were still after him but he didn't care at this point.

"God, mother is such an idiot. What the hell am I gonna do now?" Shizu had a tendency to talk to himself, it was the one thing that he took after Ino and not Shikamaru. He checked his pulse, the pack on his back to make sure there was still enough food to sustain his trip to Konoha. Right now, his mom needed help, and as far as he knew, the best place would be to go find her best friend. So, after a drink of water and a covering of his tracks, he sped of again towards the Hidden Village of the Leaf.

"Sakura, whoever you are, please be able to help me." He whispered as he ran, knowing if he stopped again the Sand nin would catch him.


Tenten came out of her apartment finally after two weeks of having the flu. The warm, evening air greeted her with open arms. She inhaled deeply and sighed and began her walk. The flu had caught her with total surprise. She was visiting Lee who was recuperating from his latest mission injury and the hospital was going through a bit of an epidemic. Sakura had taken great care of her and she was grateful for that. Neji would be flipping out right now though, seeing as "his woman" *cough cough* (He still wouldn't admit the fact that he liked her but he wouldn't let any other man near her either, which was a big piss off for her), was in quarantine for the past week and a half practically on her death bed. So, to (hopefully) piss him off even more, she didn't tell him she was up and about.

Her walk to Sakura's house was pleasant, stretching her legs for the first time was amazing too. She was about to turn onto Sakura's street when a streak of short, blonde, pineapple shaped hair ran passed her. Tenten stood for a moment or two and thought about what she was seeing. A thought passed through her head and it only took a moment for her to realize who that looked A LOT like. She bolted after him and caught the back of his collar.

"HEY!!" The boy lurched backwards and fell into the arms of the older Konoichi. She picked him up with ease (he although was incredibly indignant but a bit to tired to complain.

"Hey little buddy!" Tenten plopped on a smile and studied the boy a little more closely, she was 100% sure he was Shikamaru's boy, but seeing as he was about seven it seemed very weird that he and Temari would have a kid and the news not have made Konoha. One more look into his eyes and she saw the most beautiful blue eyes and blond hair. "What are you doing running around here?"

"I-I need to f-f-find someone. A-a-a lady, she umm, her n-name, her name is Sa-akura. Haruno. Some-something l-like th-that." Shizu was desperate, his mind was telling him the dangerous road he was taking but his heart told him he could trust her. She nodded,

"My name is Tenten, you seem to be in a heap of trouble, can I help? " All serious now,

"Can I trust you?" He asked, looking in to her eyes, reading her.

"You can trust me"

Tenten knocked on the door to Sakura's house. The pink hair she noticed opened the door almost immediately. She greeted Tenten, let her walk in quietly, as her own seven year old, Yuki, was sleeping. She noticed the small boy standing half hidden behind Tenten and she led them both into her living room.

"Hello Tenten, is there something, or someone you would like to tell me about?" She was referring to the boy still hiding behind her friend.

"No, Sakura, this is NOT my boy. But, he needs help, desperately." Sakura blinked and looked at the still hidden boy and back at Tenten.

"Would you mind helping me in the kitchen? Let's make some food for this little guy. You must be hungry." She smiled but he hid his head on his knees. Sakura motioned for Tenten to follow her into the kitchen. "Since when did we start picking up random kids on the street who claim they need help? For all we know that kid could be a pick pocket!" Sakura put her hands on her hips, annoyed with her friend.

"Sakura, just look at him will you?!" They both poked their heads out the kitchen door and looked at the boy for a moment. His head was looking around and studying a photo in the house. Sakura drew her head back into the kitchen and had a silent flip out. She screamed silent swears and Tenten nodded along in agreement.

"That is Shikamaru, except like, blond!!" Sakura poked her head out again quickly and brought it back in, "And those EYES!!!" She slid down and thought about it, "Why didn't he or Temari tell us about him? They wanted a child didn't they? And they ad one all along and decided not to share the news!!! Geez, what else could go weird in my life?!" Sakura sat down at the table, both girls recollecting her past when Yuki was younger.

"It's weird, you're right. There is no other way to put it. I mean, with what you and Yuki have been through, with the whole "Him" thing, and now this?" Tenten placed her head on the coffee table, utterly exasperated. Sakura stirred her tea and her son walked in, very tired.

"There is a boy on our couch, you do know that right?" He looked at his mother, she rolled her eyes."

"no, I had no idea sweetie," She said in her most sarcastic voice. He shrugged and took a plate of cookies and a shogi board out to the front room,

"Wouldn't surprise me"

"HEY!" She cracked a smile as he walked away, she shouted after him indignantly, "I control your bed time!!!! Sheesh, what am I going to do with that boy?" She looked at Tenten,

"There IS another parent you know." Tenten took a sip of her drink and watched a slow blush creep up Sakura's neck, she giggled. "Oh, to be hooked on a man one should not be hooked on. You always go for the S-class one's don't you?"

Sakura had a bit of a secret, one only a select few people knew about. But this is not her story, so her past is still hidden. The two talked for a bit and looked out the kitchen yet again. The two boys were playing a VERY concentrated game of shogi. No surprise it was infuriating for the both of them considering Yuki was a genius and Shizu (or the 'other boy', as they didn't know his name) was the son of Shikamaru so he MUST be brilliant. They waited until the two were done and entered the room, their intent on what his situation was to figure out Shizu's dying need to talk to them. In all honesty, neither thought it was that important considering the boy was sitting on Sakura's couch playing shogi with her son, Yuki.

"Hey, how was the game?" Sakura went up to the boys and sat next to her son. She looked at the boy, "Can I ask your name?"

"My name is Shizu, Shizuro is my full name, but you can call me Shizu."

"Okay Shizu," Tenten began as she plopped herself down on the other side of the couch, next to Shizu, squishing the boys into a sandwich. "You seemed really hyped up about your situation when you got here, what was the problem? Is it that important you need Konoichi for it, considering how calm you are now? Did you have a fight with a friend? Steal something from the book store? Fail an exam? What's the 'big deal'?" Tenten asked as nice as she could, her tone very earnest.

"It is a big deal." Shizu's tone turned cold, he looked from each woman and then to his lap, fists clenched. "There was no point in telling you if I couldn't get my own thought's straight. I-I have an issue, with a parental guardian of mine, their in trouble." Shizu did have two parents, technically, his mother was one, Hikaru, Ino's closest friend, was named her other guardian, god only knows why Ino chose him of all people.

"What's the problem? Is Shikamaru or Temari in trouble? Both of them? And, no offense, you mind telling us why they didn't tell anyone they have a son?" Sakura knew she shouldn't bombard a seven (she thought) year old with questions, but once again, because he was the son of Shika, he had to be somewhat brilliant. Shizu looked at her in confusion,

"I think your mistaken, my mother is not someone named Temari-" The girls were now thoroughly confused as this sank in, "my mother's name is Ino, Yamanaka Ino. She is, as far as I know, in a high security Suna prison, I need your help to rescue her."

Sakura:

"WHAT THE HELL????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


Well, done that chappie!!! YAY, chappie 2. Anyway, for those what 5? Of you who read this, I tied this story in with my other one. It's a bit risky as there may be many bumps in the story line if I'm not careful But don't worry, I'm meticulous about going over my stories. If you have any suggestions about said 'kinks' I may have over looked, feel free to comment on them. THX for the reviews!!
MOMI