Author's Notes: I just thought I would include this observation. Has anyone noticed the interesting mix of the technologies that do and do not seem to exist in the Naruto world? They have computers, radio transmitters and receivers, monitors and cameras, modern hospital equipment, and modern ships. Yet at the same time they rely on birds for, 'air mail,' as the fastest form of long distance communication. Think about it, if one Kage needs to speak to another they can't pick up a phone, send an email, send a radio message, or even use a telegraph. There seem to be no cars or trucks, railroads, paved highways, planes, helicopters, or means of long distance communications. So in the Naruto world you can have a cat scan performed or have security monitors controlled by your computer but you can't drive around town or pick up the phone and call someone in another village. In my story the assumption is that these technologies don't exist. After all if you were able to pick up a phone and call someone hundreds of miles away wouldn't a Kage use this method rather than a bird? Especially in an emergency. Likewise even if cars and trucks were rare they would still at least be used by the wealthy and powerful or by people like merchants who make their living by moving long distances. Thus in my story people have digital cameras and microwave ovens but can't place a long distance call and depend on wooden wagons pulled by horses. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think about this.

Thanks for the reviews as I am now up to ten. Please keep reviewing and letting me know what you think. I am going to try and post new chapters weekly until the story is done. As always, please enjoy.

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It was early. She had already showered and dressed and could smell her moms cooking. Everything had been packed last night and she was ready to go. She found herself standing in front of her bureau and looking at the couple dozen photos that sat on top of it. Her dad was a camera nut and loved to document all the happy times in their lives. She loved the pictures too since they reminded her of the ones she loved. About half of them were of her with her parents at different times in her life. There was one of her and Sakura standing outside the flower shop. All the rest were pictures of her and her two boys. She had picked these out of the hundreds her dad had taken, they were her favorites.

I don't have even one of Sasuke. Why had she never noticed that before? He was the boy she had, 'loved' since her early Academy days. How long had she devoted her thoughts and energy towards finding a means of winning his heart? She had damaged her friendship with Sakura and even pushed her two boys back; all for his sake. Why? She was shocked to find she didn't have a ready answer. When she had first lain eyes on the dark brooding boy she, along with half the girls in class, had fallen in, 'love.' But wasn't love supposed to make you happy? Try as she might she could not remember one happy moment from actually being with Sasuke. She had some good memories of her competition with Sakura and the others, but what had Sasuke ever said or done to actually make her happy? Moments of being ignored or avoided or being told she was annoying and pushy she had an abundance of. But there had never been a single smile or even a single kind word from him, not in all the time she had known him. And now he was a missing nin and a traitor. He was indirectly responsible for nearly killing Chouji and he had deliberately tried to kill Naruto, his best friend. It was not impossible that one day they would come across him on a mission and he would be the enemy. So what exactly had all that chasing gotten her in the end?

She picked up one of the picture frames. It was the most recent addition. It had been taken a couple months ago and it showed a thin, and kind of handsome, Chouji happily munching a bag of potato chips. His dad and Shikaku were on one side of the hospital bed and she and Shikamaru were on the other. Everyone was laughing and smiling. When the news had first come in that they had returned from the retrieval mission she and Sakura had rushed to the hospital. Sakura had gone to see Naruto and Sasuke (who they had both presumed to have been rescued) while she had wanted to see Chouji. When one of her boys had nearly died she had not thought about him at all. I would rather see Sasuke dead and buried than lose one of them.

She set the picture back and with one hand reached beneath her shirt to a silver chain. She pulled out the small silver onyx pendant she always wore beneath her clothes. She smiled at it; it was the very first piece of jewelry she had ever gotten. It was also tangible proof of the connection the three of them shared. Their connection was so strong that nothing would ever break it short of death. She loved both of them and was not ashamed to admit it. And whatever happened she knew Shikamaru would still love her as well, just as she knew Chouji always would. But whether or not it was selfish she didn't want to lose her place as the most important girl in Shikamaru's life.

"Princess," her father called from down the hall. "Breakfast is ready."

"Coming daddy," she answered. She put the pendant back beneath her shirt and exited her room.

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"Give this to her as soon as you see her." Yoshino pushed a small package with a pink bow on it across the table.

He stopped shoveling egg into his mouth and looked dubiously at the thing. He made no effort to reach for it. "What is that?"

"These are silk hair ties, I guarantee you she will love them. Be sure to say you bought them for her."

"Mom I really don't think…"

"And for goodness sakes Shikamaru tell her you missed her and she looks beautiful. A girl loves to hear that and it would not kill you to take someone else's feelings into account once in awhile."

"All right," he took the package and slipped it into the backpack. He would decide whether or not to give it to her later. Accepting it seemed the best option. He was worried that if he refused his mother would go into another one of her excruciating lectures on romance.

His parents shared a look, and he saw the barest of nods from his mom. His dad reached into his Jonin vest and pulled something out. "You should take this as well."

Shikamaru stared at the small silver onyx pendant and gaped like a fish on the hook. "I am not taking that! There is no way I am going to give her that!"

"Good, I'm glad to see how seriously you take this." His dad said.

"You probably shouldn't give it to her." His mom added.

"Then why do you want me to bring it?"

"On the off chance you are sure you want to give it to her we want you to be able to." Shikaku said.

"Dad there is no way I know her well enough to ask her to accept that."

He lifted an eyebrow. "But you know her well enough to hound the Hokage for a mission to Suna?"

"That's different." He crossed his arms over his chest and looked defiant.

His mom leaned forward just a bit. "Take it."

One look at his mom's face and he reached out to accept the precious item. He dropped it into one of his vest pockets. "When did you have this commissioned?"

"The day after she left." His dad answered with a smile.

"I am still not going to give it to her."

"That's fine dear," his mother said. "Now hurry up and finish your breakfast you don't want to be late."

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She was humming as she poured the oatmeal into the bowls. She kept right on humming as she sat down and spread some brown sugar and cinnamon on hers. Gaara had a slightly curious look on his face but simply took his spoon and began to eat. Kankuro knew that there had to be something wrong. Temari was rarely in a good mood in the morning and she absolutely never hummed. Since Gaara wasn't stepping up it was up to him.

"All right sis what's going on?"

She smiled up from her breakfast. "Why whatever do you mean brother dear?" She answered in a sing song voice.

He blanched, ok this had to be really bad if she was practically singing and calling him, 'dear.' "What the hell has got you in such a good mood today?"

"Why I am happy at our village's booming economy!"

"Economy? What are you planning to get a part time job or something?"

"I am just pleased to see that inter village trade has begun to pick up again."

He looked at her in complete confusion. "What?"

"Well did you know for instance that no less than five caravans are scheduled to arrive in Suna over the next week?"

He was still not getting it. "I'm not an expert, but isn't that about normal?"

"It is." Gaara surprised them by answering.

"Well I just find it wonderful that they come here bringing exotic goods from all over the world."

"Exotic right, so what is one of them bringing a shipment of diamonds or something?"

"Maybe, they have diamond mines in Fire country don't they?"

He laughed. "Ok, now I get it! Let me just guess one of these exotic caravans is coming from Konoha isn't it?" She nodded. "And you're thinking that lazy ass leaf nin is going to be guarding it don't you?" She nodded again. "Sis you are so deluded it's almost sad, there is no way he is going to be on that caravan."

She smiled at him sweetly. "I don't suppose you'd care to up the bet then?"

He nodded eagerly. "I'm already a third of the way home. Did you have something in mind?"

She rubbed her chin as though thinking. "Well we've covered pride so what about chores? How about a month of you making breakfast against a month of my polishing the wood finishings?"

"Deal!" He hated polishing and jumped at that chance to be free of it for awhile.

They pressed hands to seal the wager. "Sucker!" She burst out laughing and tossed him a small piece of paper. "Read it and weep."

He took the paper and did exactly that. "Crap." His sister let out another laugh. He gave her an annoyed look. "Maybe he is just playing a little joke on you."

"Well if you believe that we could always up the bet again, how two months?"

He shook his head. He had played enough cards to know better than to raise on a losing hand. She was the first to finish breakfast. Before heading out she gave her brother's thick brown hair a shake. "Now don't get a haircut." She practically skipped out of the kitchen.

Kankuro stared as she went. It was just a little creepy seeing her this happy. He looked down at his half eaten oatmeal and found he had no more appetite. Unless that leaf nin was a lot crueler than he thought possible or there was some minor miracle he was going to lose the bet. "Say Gaara…"

"No," his brother answered immediately. "No one forced you to bet."

"I know," he said miserably.

"Next time do not bet what you are unprepared to lose."

He put his hand on the top of his head. "This is going to be so bad."

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"You know I can't believe we're going on a three week mission without Asuma." Chouji said as they were jogging along beside the carts.

"You should get used to it, once you and Ino become Chunin he won't be in charge of us anymore." Shikamaru said.

"I can't even imagine not having Asuma looking out for us."

Shikamaru smiled at his friend. "Asuma will always look out for us. He just won't be able to do it as often because he won't be our captain anymore."

"Hey Shikamaru," Ino spoke up. "What exactly are the orders anyway?"

"We are to provide general protection and security for a merchant train consisting of twenty five wagons carrying implements and goods to Suna. We are to remain in Suna while the merchants acquire a new cargo and then escort them back to Konoha. Duration is expected to be twenty one days possibly longer. Seven days to Suna, seven days there, and then seven days to return." He had memorized the mission statement.

"Seven days to get to Suna? It shouldn't take more than three."

"If it were just you, me, and Chouji going there then yes. But horses and wagons can't move as fast as shinobi." He nodded toward the carts and their pace.

She let out a sigh. "This is going to be boring isn't it?" A very small part of her regretted not staying and going to Sakura's party.

"You should try and enjoy it. I suspect our time in Suna will be very interesting and very, very troublesome."