"Ino? Did you hear me?" Tsunade lazily waved a hand in front of the blonde's face. One of her eye brows was raised skeptically and she leaned even more weight onto the desk that already supported a good part of her. Sakura took a small step forward wringing her hands, she again shuffled backward when her mentor sat up straighter as Ino began to talk.

"Yes, Hokage-sama...well no...actually." Ino admitted sheepishly. Rubbing the back of her neck she gave a half-smile to the once again irritated Tsunade.

"I said, do you have any other questions?"

"Ummm...where are we supposed to be from?" Ino had a feeling that the answer to her question had already been given. She was, of course correct.

"Any where outside of the Mist. It would most likely have to be either the Village hidden in the Rocks. I would suggest finding out what kind of clothing they wear in the Rock." The Hokage's words had begun to slur together and her eyes repeatedly fluttered closed only to open again seconds later.

"Will we be supplied with money?" Shikamaru asked, and seeing that Tsunade had in fact, as Sakura had seemed to fear, passed out he turned his attention to Sakura.

Distressed she answered quickly, "Yes, you will be supplied with enough money to start your new life in the Mist and you will both be payed upon your return. If you don't mind could you leave? All of your instructions have been given to you and remember, this mission is classified only Tsunade-sama, Shizune, and I know about it."

Nodding Shikamaru and Ino stood, bowed and left the room.

It was late outside, that much Ino could tell from the darkness that had settled like a blanket over the Leaf, as she stood at the gates to Konoha with nothing but her clothing and a sack filled with all she would bring with her. What she didn't know was the exact time or even where her only team mate was.

"Shikamaru, must we leave now? It's close to midnight." Ino greeted her said only team mate, scowling into the night. Sighing when he didn't answer and instead continued to walk forward (Ino suspected that he was pretty much asleep on his feet, as she was) the blonde followed him out of the village and into the forest.

Tenten was sitting on a bench near the Hokage Monument listening as a teacher spoke what he must have though to be words of wisdom to his three young students, when she heard it. Two people conversing in whispered tones stood some where behind her, extracting a kunai from her weapons pouch Tenten angled it much like a mirror to see just who was talking. Sakura huddled in the shadows talking to a slightly older woman with black hair. Inching closer she could make out the words.

"...Shikamaru and Ino left last night...they're married... said it was a mission...only Hokage-sama, you, and I know..." It seemed to Tenten that Sakura had said Shikamaru and Ino had been married. But that couldn't be true, could it? There was only one way to find out.

"Married? Are you sure?" Hinata had lost her stutter but was still soft spoken and Tenten knew that she could make sense of this if any one could.

"Yep, that's what I heard. She said it was part of a mission I think"

"Well, you think that sounds suspicious right? Like they eloped?" Hinata looked a bit disbelieving but to Tenten that guess sounded right on target. Nodding she said good-bye and hurried over to the training grounds to get her ex-team mates opinions.

Neji looked skeptical and voiced his doubt before returning to the targets he was demolishing. Lee on the other hand...

"What a romantic story about the power of youthful love! They eloped to escape the tension of their rivaling families!" he shouted

"That doesn't make sense. Their fathers are best friends, they would probably be over joyed that Ino and Shikamaru were getting married." Neji put in before Lee ignored him and sprinted to the streets, presumably to tell every one who would listen.

Sakura had just sat down at Icharaku with Sasuke and Naruto. The three tried to keep in touch as much as possible and this was the first time this month that they were all not too busy to have lunch out.

Slowly Chouji slumped down into a stool and ordered a bowl of ramen. Sensing something to be wrong, Chouji could usually rival Naruto in ramen consumption, Sakura decided to question him, just to see what's the matter she told herself.

"What's wrong? You usually get a few more bowls of ramen then that. "

"Lee said that Shikamaru and Ino eloped. I thought I was Shikamaru's best friend he could have told me!" he complained.

Shocked Sakura left with out a word to her companions, one of which had already begun to question the distraught Chouji.

Tsunade had "that look" when Sakura entered her office. The one that clearly said she wanted to make a bet.

"So Shikamaru and Ino are a couple now..." She started. Sakura knew that her mentor wouldn't give up once she decided to gamble so the pink haired kunoichi swallowed her nervousness and took the bait.

"A couple? No they aren't a couple...well at least not yet."

"So then, lets make a deal. I say they'll be a couple when they get home. And you say...?"

Laughing Sakura answered her, "Every one in Konoha already thinks their a couple. Some one's started a rumor that they eloped."

Tsunade looked thoughtful for a minute, "Alright we'll start a pool. Some will say that they really are on a mission and others will think that Shikamaru and Ino have run away together. You and Shizune will go collect bets, we'll say...five dollars to place a bet?"

"I'm pretty sure we could raise it to ten dollars." Sakura answered thoughtfully.

I really didn't like the Shika Ino part of this chapter but the rest was okay. Right? Please review!!!

-Fumei