AN: this is a pretty long one compared to the others. You'll understand why when you see where it finishes. I'm not evil enough to leave it here though. All will be explained in chapter four. This might be a slight dig at my sister's opinion of Sakura and Ino as a couple. Disclaimer still applies.

1092 words in this chapter

Missing in Action

Chapter three- Certain type of skill

They needn't have bothered.

By the time Sakura and Ino had turned up for their meeting, Tsunade's last appointment had only just turned up. They had no idea who it was but she had insisted on seeing them before the kunoichis.

This immediately put them on edge, realizing that the last appointment would have done the one thing that Sakura and Ino dreaded. It would've put Tsunade in a bad mood.

Sakura sat fiddling with her uncomfortable pumps while Ino desperately caked on layer after layer of foundation to cover up the rings under her eyes, the only sign of her heavy night's drinking. This was all they could do as they waited outside the office for another hour while waiting for their call inside.

"What do you think they are doing in there?" Sakura asked impatiently.

"Huh? What? Who?" Ino looked over at her with one eye, the other still fixated on her reflection in the small purple compact mirror she held up in front of her face.

"Whoever she's got in there. They've been in there for more than an hour."

"Well… they've probably spent half an hour, if not more, getting an earful from Tsunade-sama about being late, so really, it hasn't been too long for a normal meeting."

"Stop trying to act smarter than you are, Ino-pig" Sakura sulked that she hadn't come up with it herself

"Sorry forehead. I forgot that was your job." Ino smiled back before returning to her compact

"I am smarter than you!"

Ino didn't get time to retaliate as the door to the Hokage's office swung open and two slouched figures stepped out, each regarding the girls with similar expressions of boredom and disinterest. She looked up and quickly snapped her mirror back into her pocket at the sight of the two jonins.

Sakura glanced up and scoffed "should've known" Those lazy asses never turn up on time. If I'd have realized it was them before us, I could've gone home and changed properly.

Kakashi smiled back at Sakura. Or rather, his one exposed eye crinkled in a way that made it look like he was smiling. "Good morning Sakura-chan"

Both Sakura and Shikamaru grunted at his cheery attitude and incorrect assumption of the time of day before the door to the office swung open again.

Shizune stepped out looking slightly flustered "Yamanaka-san, Sakura-san, you can come in now"

Without another glance at the two guys, they followed the older woman into Tsunade's office.

The door shut itself behind them and they were shocked to be faced by the Hokage, not clenching her fists in frustration like they had imagined in their minds, but in a completely different expression.

She sat leaning back in her chair, arms calmly rested on the edge of the desk, and a huge (if slightly suspicious) grin on her face. "Ah! My two favorite young kunoichis! Come! Sit down!" she gestured lightly to the two chairs set out before her.

They both shot a cautious glance towards Shizune, who gave them a forced smile before going to lean against the far wall, behind Tsunade. They took this as a signal that she wasn't on drugs and it would be safe to approach.

Ino couldn't help but to wonder how it was exactly that Shikamaru and Kakashi had managed to put her into such a good mood when they had turned up late. Did they actually let her win a bet or something? Why would Shika even bother trying? And most importantly, why doesn't he ever put me in a good mood like that? I t must have been Kakashi-sensei's doing. It's the only plausible explanation.

Sakura was thinking along much the same lines as they took their seats. Tsunade-sama never smiles at the end of a meeting with Kakashi-sensei. He always annoys her somehow. That's why team 7 always got the crappy missions. The only way she could end up like this would be if he paid her, and it's a well known fact that Kakashi-sensei never pays for anything. It must have been Shikamaru's doing. It's the only plausible explanation.

"A little overdressed don't you think Sakura?" Tsunade observed, grin still present on her face as she leant forward towards them.

"Gomen Tsunade-sama. I didn't have time to get dressed this morning because… well I didn't get to go home because…" Sakura blushed, embarrassed to have to explain, hoping to avoid the subject of last night's activities.

"It doesn't matter Sakura. I was merely making small talk. How did you get the message if you didn't go home?"

"She stayed the night at my apartment Tsunade-sama" Ino interrupted, saving her friend the effort. Another habit she seemed to have picked up as a result of Shikamaru's presence over the years.

"Oh." Tsunade sat back, slightly alarmed. "So you two are…?"

"What?!" Ino gasped out horrified.

Sakura sweat dropped "that's so gross!"

"You're not gay then?" Tsunade asked, just to clarify.

"No!!" both girls chorused while Shizune snickered quietly in the background.

"Good, because then I'd have to ask Hinata and Tenten and somehow, I don't think they are quite suitable for the job."

"Huh?" Ino frowned.

"What job?" Sakura felt her heart fill with dread "you said I was on leave"

"You are… for training." The Hokage had a devious glint in her eye that neither kunoichi liked the look of.

"Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this?" Ino sighed, sinking into her chair.

"Oh dear Kami no. You're going to love it Ino, I'm quite sure of that. That's why you were chosen."

"Chosen for what?"

"Let me explain. During your time as a kunoichi, there will be certain missions that will require a very particular skill. Not all kunoichis are capable of handling this type of mission, so what I intend to do, starting with your generation, is to choose two kunoichi from each year of students that go through the academy to train specifically with this type of skill. You two are my first students."

"What type of skill? A new jutsu?" Sakura began to feel a little exited. Something that Tenten and Hinata will not be able to do but I can? Hell yeah!!

"Not exactly Sakura."

"Just tell them, for Kami's sake Tsunade." Shizune snapped "I'm not standing here for another one hour meeting for no reason other than the fact that you can't help raise the tensions in a room before you speak properly."

"Fine." Tsunade sulked "girls. Beginning today, you are starting… seduction training."