Ino enjoyed this mission because she got to spend time with two of her best guy friends: Naruto and Sasuke. They were funny and made her laugh, even though they got her angry sometimes. She finished the mission quickly, and they brought him back to Konoha so that they could hand him over to Tsunade three days after they started the mission. Ino walked home by herself slowly so that she could take in all of her surroundings. She loved this neighborhood because of the people. They were all friendly, but kept to themselves at the same time. The children would come outside and play almost every day, and she loved hearing their laughter. She unlocked the door to her house and closed it behind her, throwing her keys on the table. She went to her bed and threw herself on it to rest for a bit. She heard someone tap on her window. She sighed and looked up, but quickly got up to open it when she saw it was a clay bird. She opened the window and let the clay bird flutter around before it landed on her desk, a note in it's beak. She plucked it out and thanked it by giving it a small kiss on the forehead before letting it flutter around her room. She chuckled and unfolded the note quickly, eager to read what Deidara had to tell her.

The note read:

Ino,

Itachi is on a mission right now and he told me that he wanted you to meet him here when he gets back, un. I'll be at your house in a day to pick you up so that you have time to make up whatever explanations you need, un. Ah yes, and Tobi wanted me to tell you he's a good boy, yeah.

Deidara

She smiled, lifting her head to watch the bird flutter hopelessly around her room. She sighed and got up to get her things together. She figured she could just tell Tsunade that she was going on a vacation or something. When she finally had her things packed, she called Tsunade's office rather than going all the way to the other side of town to tell her in person.

"Hello?" Shizune's voice asked into the receiver.

"Hey, Shizune, right? It's Ino. I was wondering if I could talk to Lady Hokage…" Ino said. Shizune agreed and put her on hold so that she could transfer the call.

"Hello?" Tsunade's voice answered after a good two minutes.

"Hokage-sama, its Ino. I was wondering if maybe I could take a little vacation…" Ino asked.

"Where?" she asked the blonde.

"Uhm…in…the fire country." Ino answered quickly, thinking of the closest place she knew without giving away where the Akatsuki base was.

"Hmmm…I suppose you could. For how long?" Tsunade asked her after thinking about it for a little bit.

"Uhm…a month?" Ino suggested. If Itachi wasn't planning on Ino staying that long, she figured she actually could take a vacation in the fire country. It worked either way, really.

"Hmm…okay Ino. I suppose you can take a vacation, just don't tell Naruto about it until after you come back. He's been begging for a vacation for ages," she told her. Ino agreed and then thanked the Hokage and bid her goodbye before hanging up. She quickly threw everything she had clean in a bag and then lied down again to try and think of what she was going to tell Sakura. She heard her phone ring and picked it up to look at the screen

Speak of the devil she thought to herself after she read Sakura's name on the Caller ID.

"Hello?" she asked into the receiver.

"Ino-pig, your coming with me to a rave tonight," Sakura said immediately.

"what?" Ino asked her.

"Jeez, Piggy, I know your blonde and all, but do I have to spell it out for you?" Sakura asked her, the surprise evident through her voice.

"No, Forehead, It's just that I don't seem to understand what gives you the right to make my plans for me," Ino shot back.

"Calm down, piggy. You'll have fun, and besides you've been single forever, maybe you'll get your ass a boyfriend so I don't have to feel guilty anymore," Sakura said plainly.

"Forehead, please. If I wanted a boyfriend I would just walk outside my door and snap my fingers and have a long line of boys waiting for me to make my choice, including your boyfriend so I would shut it if I were you," Ino said sarcastically, though she really was getting kind of annoyed.

"Whatever. Pick something decent to wear and I'll pick you up at around eight," Sakura said dismissively.

"Sakura, I can't go I have to be somewhere tomorrow and so I can't stay out and get drunk," Ino told her.

"Well, jeez, now who am I going to take?" Sakura asked her.

"I don't know, Forehead-girl. But I know you, you'll think of something," Ino told her before quickly closing the phone to avoid the argument that was undoubtedly going to come after she had finished that sentence. She rolled her eyes. That was easier than I thought she thought, plopping herself on her bed and sighing. Too troublesome she thought. Her eyes immediately shot open as she realized that Shikamaru was rubbing off on her. She shook her head and sighed again. Oh well Inner Ino said dismissively. She slowly let sleep take over her.

I know it's horribly short, and probably not very good. I understand that right now the story doesn't really make sense, or at least this chapter doesn't really seem like its helping the plot but trust me it is. For a while I had horrible writer's block and that's why im posting this horribly short chapter because I feel really guilty for taking so long. So please read and review and if you pplz don't like it right now don't worry I can change it. But anyways R&R!!!

Ah yes, and this chapter is dedicated to the lovely reviewers of chapter three:

Luh-sama

AkemixHanako

-x-Sanctuary Wish-x-

sugarmonkey778

ino4life

SuicideIsSalvation (love your username by the way)

Yoruichi 'Ino'

You guys are the only reason I keep writing this story, I swear!!! 3