Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters!! But you already knew that

(I want to thank everyone for the encouraging reviews. Sorry the first chapter was a little short, but i promise the rest will be longer. I hope you like it. So with out further adieu... )

thoughts

Chapter 2: Preparation

"You have to do what!!" Slowly Sakura removed her hands from her ears recovering from Ino's outburst.

"Ino calm down. This a a very important mission." Sakura tried to make her voice sound calm, but she couldn't help it, she was nervous.

"Ya, I get that, but come on. Is Tsunade really serious. I mean you of all people." Ino looked at her friend an stuck out her tongue.

" Gee, thanks Ino Pig!" She smiled then let out a deep sigh, "besides all the other qualified kinoichi already had mission assignments... you leave tomorrow right?"

Ino nodded her head, "But still Sakura, she should have considered your dignity."

"Look Ino, I'm a big girl, I can handle this. And the village needs the money this mission will bring... besides this really is an important task. If this girl isn't returned safely a war will break out."

"Huh, Sakura what are you talking about?" Ino tilted her head in confusion.

"She has been promised to the son of a very wealthy lord in a neighboring village. For years the two villages have been fighting each other, but ten years ago a treaty was established. Their two children would marry when they came of age. Since then there has been peace and prosperity for both villages. But if the girl is not returned in time for the wedding...then the treaty is off and a devastating war will ensue" Sakura looked at the floor and let her voice trail off.

"Wow, how much time till the wedding?" Ino gently touched Sakura's hand.

"Three weeks" Sakura let out a deep breath.

"That's not much time. What are you still doing here?"

"We leave in the morning, and I needed to see you before I went." Sakura smiled at her long time rival, and now friend.

"Ahhh how sweet." Ino's voice had a trace of mockery.

" Well, it's also because I don't have anything slutty enough for the mission!" A grin crept across her face as she let herself into Ino's closet.

"Well then you've come to the right place." Ino followed behind her friend. "Although I object to the term slutty... I prefer...inviting." A playful expression on her face.

After a moment of digging through her closet Ino held up a short, red leather, mini skirt and a black, low cut, halter top with spaghetti straps and a short mid drift. " I think this is just the thing."

Sakura looked at the small pile of fabric with a slight look of horror before reluctantly gathering it up and going into the bathroom to change. When she emerged from the bathroom Ino was waiting with a camera and began taking pictures.

"Hey, Ino! Whats the big idea" Sakura said with anger and embarrassment in her voice.

"Just getting some proof. No one will ever believe you actually put that on." She covered her mouth to hide a giggle then put the camera down as she met Sakura's killer stare. "Sorry..it was just a joke... but who knows, maybe I can sell them to Naruto ."

With that both girls burst into laughter, and fell to the floor.

Slowly standing up, Sakura looked at her self in the mirror. The skirt was tight and only managed to come to the middle of her thigh. Each side had a long slit that removed any chance of leaving something for the imagination.

"Ino, I can't believe you actually wear this in public!" She didn't try to hide her distaste for the outfit.

"Oh... silly, silly, Sakura. That outfit is for more,... personal occasions." She raised her eyebrows and gave a seductive wink.

"Ewww, sorry I asked." Sakura turned back to the mirror and continued to examine her reflection.

"Your going to have to get over those goody, goody reactions if you have any hopes of pulling off this mission. Now here, put these on." Ino passed Sakura a pair of knee high, black, heeled boots that sipped up the side.

"Now these are slutty" Sakura smiled as she sipped them up. She took one final look, placed her hands on her hips and frowned. "I look like I should be on a corner somewhere."

"Perfect!" Ino declared with victory. "Now lets talk makeup."

XXXXXXXX

A few hours later Sakura left Ino's apartment with a small bag that held the clothes and makeup Ino had lent her for the mission. She still wasn't too sure about this, but at least now she would look the part.

Ggggrrrrrr... Sakura place her had on her growling stomach. Well it couldn't hurt to grab a bite to eat. She headed towards everyone's favorite ramen shop. She had just ducked behind the curtain when,

"Hey Sakura!! Over here!!" It was Naruto. He bounced up and down on his stool, waving his arm wildly in the air. To his left sat a very annoyed Sai.

"Shut up bakka, she can see you." Sai said in his usual uncaring voice.

"What did you say!" Naruto clinched his fist in rage. Sakura quickly walked over and took the empty seat next to Naruto before a fight broke out.

"Hi guys, mind if I join you?" Naruto quickly forgot his argument with Sai and spun around to face Sakura.

"Ya, absolutely!" Naruto quickly ordered a bowl of ramen for Sakura and another one for himself. "So Sakura, I hear you you and Kakashi Sensei have a big mission tomorrow." He spoke in between slurps.

"Uhhh, ya... how did you know? Her face was flooded with shock. Oh, no.. how did he find out...this is sooo embarrassing.

Naruto let a big goofy smile cross his face. "I have my sources."

"Idiot." Sai said smacking Naruto on the back of the head. "We all know Hinata told you."

"Ya, but she didn't tell me the specifics, just that it was top priority." He returned his gaze to Sakura. "So can you fill in the details?"

What how did Hinata know?...INO!! AHHH... I'm going to kill her...I said not to tell Anyone...I just left like 20 minutes ago...and already Naruto knows ...of all the people...did she think Hinata wouldn't tell her boyfriend...when I get my hands on her...

"Ah Sakura, are you ok?" Naruto's voice brought her back to reality.

"Oh, sorry. Ya I'm fine. But as far as the mission goes, I really can't tell you more than that, at least not till we get back." Or maybe never. She added to herself.

"Ahhhhh" Naruto began to whine

"Drop it bakka, she can't tell" Sai glared at Naruto. Naruto opened his mouth to argue, but decided to just let it go and order some more ramen.

They ate the remainder of their meal in silence. When they were through they went their separate ways in search of their apartments. Too tired to beat Ino senseless tonight, Sakura decided to just call it a day, and head to bed.

As she snuggled in between her soft sheets, she let out a gentle sigh. Tomorrow the real work would begin. Whether she was ready or not.