Ricochet

Employer: Horikawa Emiko

Target: Mizushima Noriko

Location: Northeastern side of Fire Country, Kanazuma District

Length: Undetermined

Type: Escort, Retrival

Rank: B

Mortality Prediction: 48%

Notes: The client requests absolute protection of the target until the arrival of the package. Once the package arrives, the target is to be relocated. In the case of interference, the target is to be disposed of.

Blue orbs roamed over the mission scroll and a tongue darted out to wet dried lips. She re-read the enitre thing once, twice, thrice, her gaze inevitably shifting back to one word: undetermined. It was Ino's least favorite term to spot on a mission scoll. Undetermined could mean one week or one month, could mean the difference between saying "See ya later" and saying "Goodbye". Still, the mission was in Fire Country and Ino found herself grateful for that. If she was going to be stuck somewhere for a long stretch of time then at least she wouldn't be far from home. With a nod of understanding, she swiftly rolled up the parchment and slipped it into her weapons pouch. She was about to ask about how much time she had to prepare before departure when another body appeared in the room amidst swirls of black.

"Hokage-sama."

He made a curt bow, muscles flexing under alabaster skin, face schooled into it's usual infuriating imitation of a smile. Mocking her. He looked too much like Sasuke and the Uchiha had never smiled like that. Stupid look-alike with his fake cheerfulness. Good-looking as he might be, Ino didn't trust him.

"You're late.", the female Hokage stated pointedly, resting her chin on a fist.

"Apologies, Hokage-sama."

He turned his head to the younger blonde and Ino was careful not to frown at him.

"Hey beautiful."

At that, she flushed, light pink dusting across her cheeks. It wasn't the adjective; she'd been called pretty, beautiful, gorgeous, and everything in between countless times. It was the fact that it was coming from him. Despite her keen ability to read people, when it came to Sai she was never entirely sure if he was being genuine or not. After all, how could a person have an opinion when they barely had any emotions? And if Sakura's word was anything to go on, Sai was full of lies and trickery.

"...Hi."

"If we're through with the introductions now, Sai, Ino has the scroll briefing you on the details of this mission. Ino, Sai will be your team captain for the duration of this mission. It's rather simple, so I doubt you need much time for preparations. I have selected the two of you specifically for your abilities and strengths and I expect a flawless report when you return. You will be leaving at 2100 hours sharp. Are there any questions?"

Tsunade studied the pair sternly, appraising her choice. Sai, she knew, could handle this mission easily, perhaps even in his sleep. She had chosen him purposely for his good judgement and proficiency in his skills. Ino, however, was chosen for completely different reasons. The young Yamanaka was one of her better chuunins, but she had been hand picked for both her kekkei genkai and her looks. Given the mission parameters, Ino would provide complementary backup : her mental abilities could prove useful if extra measures in stealth were needed and her looks would be advantageous if a distraction was needed. The employer was even paying well enough that she could afford to send two shinobi, so in the Godaime's eyes it was win-win.

"No."

"No."

"Good. Dismissed."

Ino and Sai bowed and took their leave, walking alongside each other in the hallway. Ino pulled the scroll out and handed it to Sai. Why had she thought she was going to get her first solo mission today? Of course she would need a team, or at least one partner, the Shintenshin practically demanded it. To leave oneself unguarded while occupying another body was just plain stupid. Her father hadn't even solo'd a mission until he was 28, what had made her think-

No. She wasn't going to even let that thought finish itself, all that would lead to was self-pity and envying others. She was Yamanaka Ino, damnit! Number one kunoichi graduate of her year. So she was a little reliant on support, at least she wasn't totally useless outside of her intermediate medical skills or InoShikaCho, being paired with Sai for this mission proved that, didn't it? May the Bijuu be damned if she was going to go through her life needing help, using the freaking buddy system. This was an opprotunity, perhaps the perfect opprotunity, to show that she could handle things without a protector. To make people take her seriously. Maybe it was time to try that jutsu.

"Sounds boring."

"Hmm?"

Ino snapped out of her thoughts and noticed that they had reached the first floor of the Hokage Tower and were heading towards the doors. She'd spaced out the whole time they came down the stairs.

"But you'll be the first kunoichi I've worked with other than Ugly, so I guess this is a good thing."

The blonde narrowed her eyes at him. What was that supposed to mean, he guessed this was a good thing? Was he implying that being partnered with her wasn't a good thing? Did he really have to guess? Or did that statement have other implications, given that he considered Sakura unattractive? Was he pleased to be working with someone he called beautiful? What, did he actually think he had some semblence of a chance with her? Ha.

"Yeah, whatever. I'll meet you at the Southern gates when it's time. Later."

She cooly ended the conversation and walked off, a part of her mind wondering if she'd been just a tad too frigid. She remembered the other nickname he'd given Sakura, and Ino would rather be called Beautiful than Bitchy any day. Sai and his stupid nicknames. Ino didn't understand why Tsunade couldn't have just assigned her to Neji like usual.

Or maybe that was the problem.

Maybe she was getting too accustomed to the Hyuuga, too dependent on his strategies and commands and that's why Tsunade had decided to stick her, indefinitely, with yet another stoic bastard for a partner.

Is this what it would have been like with Sasuke, if he had stayed in Konoha? If I'd had the chance to be his partner?

Ino shook her head, shaking away the pointless thought. She would NOT think about Sasuke. He was gone and he was never coming back and she was determined to delete him from her mind. He didn't deserve her thoughts.

First love never blooms. Her mother had told her that in a soft voice, shampooing six year old Ino's hair as she sat in the tub, chattering away about a cute boy in her class named Uchiha Sasuke. Ino had quieted when she heard her, then turned around to face her mother, confusion written all over her face. Whaddya mean, 'kaa-san? You said all things that grow bloom eventually. You told me so, I remember! Her mother had simply smiled a mysterious little smile that Ino wouldn't be able to decipher until years later. This is different, Ino. When it comes to love, the rules don't apply. Ino cocked her head to the side. But...then isn't that a rule too? Her mother had only smiled again.

She hated it when her mother was right.

Well, this had to be one of the most humbling days of TenTen's life. Of all the things the former Weapons Mistress was capable of - hitting a target from hundreds of yards away, raining death on enemies in the form of cold steel, impaling someone with enough precision to not kill and keep them alive for information - properly dressing herself in a multilayered formal furisode did not make her list. She had tried her best, honestly she had, but somewhere between the third layer of the garment and attempting to tie the obi she had gone horribly, horribly wrong. Worse still, she'd had to admit defeat and ask for help. The fact that Naiya, a Hyuuga female several years her junior, and Hanabi, pride of the Main household, were the ones who responded to her admission of incompetence caused what was left of her deflated pride to wither away into dust and scatter.

TenTen stood stiffly as the two women tended to her, tugging and pulling and unravelling things to correct her mistakes, and tried not to show how shamed she felt. The kimono they were redressing her in was grand; a shimmering sienna colored silk with lavish embroidery depicting autumn leaves and trees that only got more fascinating towards the hemline. It could have easily been cut and framed as a panoramic picture. For five generations it had been in the Hyuuga family, and now it was hers. It likely costed more money than TenTen had made in her entire life and she didn't even know how to put it on properly.

But here she was, one of the biggest tomboys Konoha ever raised, getting waited on by younger, single women as if they were her servants and she were a noble. The irony. Still, TenTen felt gracious for such a strong sign of respect on their behalf. Even if it was only from Neji's influence. In another life, if she had not been an orphan, would she have still chosen the path of a kunoichi? Would she have become like the figure relfected in the mirror before her, a lady married into a clan of status, living a life of luxury?

She looked at her hair, her signature double buns currently surrounded by small golden hairsticks and charms, and she felt like an imposter. TenTen, with her tanned skin and boyish shape and scarred hands did not deserve gold and silks. Did not deserve to be waited on. Did not deserve the recognition she had not fought for. She had always wanted to be somebody but this...this felt wrong. Stolen.

A lie.

"Nee-san."

The girls were finished and TenTen looked herself over. The woman staring back at her in the mirror was probably her grandmother's dream come true. TenTen could barely recognize herself.

Is this me?

She stared, dumbstruck for a few fleeting seconds before thanking Hanabi and Naiya for their help and following them out of the room, down the corridors, and into the large room where many of the clan were gathered in honor of Hiashi's wife's birthday. Quickly, she found her husband and settled beside him. Feigning attention to the front of the room for a few moments, TenTen soon let her gaze drift over Neji, studying his profile. He seemed engrossed in what was being said, and her mouth curved up at the edges at how perfect his formal kimono looked on him.

A minute later, with a strong pang of guilt, it dawned on TenTen that for formal occasions it was customary for Hyuuga wives to dress their husbands.

She'd forgotten, and instantly she knew that he knew she had forgotten. And he wasn't upset, didn't chastise her and didn't blame her at all. Maybe he hadn't even expected her to remember. It wasn't her fault, she wasn't born into a clan of status. This world wasn't hers. This wasn't who she was.

She was an imposter.

"I mean it, Shikamaru! Open this door right now, or I swear I'll knock it down!"

Ino swore she heard the sound of the lazy nin sucking his teeth before the door gently cracked open. He stood before her in a mesh shirt and knee shorts, his bushy hair uncombed and free of bondage, tired eyes almost looking through her instead of at her.

"It's unlocked, woman. Next time try the handle first."

He moved to the side in a silent invitation for her to come in, but Ino stayed rooted to her spot.

"Un-uh. This isn't a social call, Shika. Put some clothes on, you're gonna help me train."

To his credit, Shikamaru managed to resist rolling his eyes.

"Mendokuse. I'm already dressed if you're just going to train. Can't I just go like this?"

He knew it was a lost cause but he had to at least try to put up a fight, if only for his reputation's sake.

"Hell no. I refuse to be seen with you looking like that. And didn't I tell you to cut your hair? It's touching your shoulders."

Somewhere between "hell" and "no", her lanky teammate had drifted away from the door, disappearing into the dark shadows of his apartment. When he reappeared seconds later only having thrown on a Tshirt over the mesh and shoes on his feet, Ino huffed. Pulling a band off of his wrist, his arms stretched behind him as he worked his hair into its usual ponytail.

"It's this or nothing. Take it or leave it."

Ino made a face showing him exactly how displeased she was with the offer, but in the end simply yanked him along by the arm behind her as they headed for the Akimichi residence. Rounding up Chouji went fairly smoother, all it took was the promise of chocolate chip cookies and Chouji was game. Team 10 made it to their old training grounds in no time. Shikamaru prepared to sit down when Ino stopped him.

"Oh no you don't. We're not playing Catch the Blonde today, I need you standing."

With a look, Shikamaru shuffled back over to their pudgy friend muttering something that sounded suspiciously like "Troublesome". The red head looked at the blonde.

"What are we playing then, Ino?"

Ino smirked and both boys gulped. Nothing good came when Ino smirked like that. Ino propped a hand on her hip confidently.

"The name of the game is Zombie Nation! I'm gonna hijack the both of you and see how long you two last."

Shikamaru frowned. He had wondered when Ino was finally going to get around to attempting her father's favorite variation of the Shintenshin, though he knew this test run was likely more of a measure for how long she could last than the both of them. The true measure of a mindwalker's strength wasn't in how long they could hold a possession jutsu, Ino could hold hers for hours already and he'd heard that Inoichi could hold his for nearly a day. What really set apart a talented Yamanaka from others was the number of minds one could control at one time. A multi-possession technique was the next logical step for shinobi like Ino, who specialized in stealth and infiltration. He'd heard a rumor once that back during the First Great Shinobi War a small group of Yamanakas had wiped out half of an army and left the other half either brain dead or thinking they were newborn kittens. The clan of blondes were not ninja to be taken lightly.

"I want you to fight it with everything you have, okay? Ready?"

Ino set her hands into a seal neither of the boys recognized.

"Shinranshin no Jutsu!"

The trio stilled, the two boys adjusting to the feel of Ino's chakra coursing through them. Ino curled and uncurled a hand reflexively, testing. Shikamaru and Chouji were forced to mimic, Shikamaru looking decidedly unimpressed. Chouji, unfortunately, chose that moment to say something he shouldn't have.

"Your new jutsu's practically the same as Shikamaru's."

Instantly, Ino's eyes narrowed. Without warning, Chouji punched himself in the face. Ino smirked.

"Not exactly. This isn't a game of reflection like the Kagemane,"

Shikamaru shot her a look in defence of his clan's jutsu.

"I don't have to have you copy me, I can make you do whatever I want without any drawbacks."

Shikamaru twirled in a circle, against his will. Chouji laughed until he cried.

"I know where you live."

Came a threat from the shadow user. Ino grinned.

"Yeah, yeah. Keep fighting it, I don't feel any resistance and I don't know if it's because I'm just that good or if you're just that lazy."

Before he could retort, Ino had the pair dashing away towards the edge of the trees. Just past halfway there Ino felt her control snap and instantly the two stopped running. Shikamaru turned around, shifting his weight onto one foot.

"Your limit is five hundred meters."

Ino nodded, disappointed. She could cast a Shintenshin from almost twice that. Chouji and Shikamaru jogged back and Ino straightened her posture, determination taking over.

"Allright, this round let's go for time!"

At the conclusion of Lady Hanako Hyuuga's birthday gathering, Neji found himself seated on one of the back decks of the compound, in the company of none other than his uncle. The elder was aging gracefully but aging none the less with streaks of gray peppering his midnight locks and fine lines settling around a mouth that had never publicly smiled. Even the edges of his pearly white eyes were slowly tinting a light blue in the telltale first signs of cataracts. It was by sheer luck alone that Hiashi managed to remain unafflicted by arthritis. Looking at his father's twin, Neji pondered if this was what the future held for him as well. Hiashi stared up at the darkening sky with a closed expression.

"I have only daughters."

The smooth baritone of his voice cutting the silence almost catches him off guard. He keeps his silence and slowly his uncles eyes lower from the sky and settle on him.

"The closest I will ever have to a son is you."

After all of these years, Neji is unsure if that is a backhanded compliment or not. But whether there is an insult tucked inside the statement or not, Neji can see the sincerity in Hiashi's eyes. Whichever it is that he means, he means it. He waits paitently for the older man to continue.

"Hinata will be my successor, this will not change, but"

He paused dramatically, eyes flickering away from him and then back in a manner that Neji couldn't place.

"That is only the next generation, your generation. Beyond that, the direction of the clan is not yet set in stone."

Neji tensed, his mind kicking into overdrive as he tried to read into what he was being told. He chose his words carefully, as carefully as a deer would choose its steps over a frozen pond.

"Are there not plans?"

Hiashi's brow twitched and his mouth hardened just slightly. Was that disappointment Neji saw?

"There are...rules."

The younger Hyuuga nodded, listening.

"And there are ways around the rules."

He couldn't hide the shock that hit then, staring disbelievingly at the head of his clan. This was not something he'd ever expected the man to say; the Hyuuga did not go against rules.

Seeing his nephew's loss for words, Hiashi closed his eyes and continued.

"You have wed, Hinata has not. If you were to produce an heir before her..."

"You are saying-"

"Your child could belong to the Main house, if you wanted."

Neji's heart thundered in his chest and ears. His mouth went dry. Hiashi, whom he had hated for the bulk of his childhood, was offering him freedom. Not for him, it was too late for him, but for his future children. Freedom from the cursed seal.

"Why are you telling me this?"

The elder opened his eyes again.

"Because there must always be an heir, Neji."

The words echoed in his ears long after his uncle stood up and left.

A/N: Moar Ino, 'cause this is a NejIno y'know.