Ricochet

The Godaime Hokage's honey brown eyes gleamed in satisfaction as she regarded the makeshift team in front of her. They really were perfect for this kind of mission - a job requiring excellent tracking skills and brute strength - if not an odd combination. Kiba and Akamaru could find anything that had a smell or left footprints, Naruto was certifiably one of Konoha's strongest shinobi and Tsunade was especially pleased with the team's leader, Hyuuga Neji. As the most talented member of his clan who completed mission after mission effectively and with a failure rate of zero, he was quickly becoming a favorite of hers.

"Baa-chan, can I be leader this time?" Naruto spoke up, hopeful at the woman he'd looked to as a mother-figure since he was thirteen.

Her eyes darkened. "No."

The orange ninja looked genuinely crestfallen. "But why not? I can take on anyone, and you know it! I'd make a great leader."

"You're still technically a genin."

Naruto grumbled. He was beyond tired of hearing that excuse - a multi-village chuunin exam hadn't been held in years, but that didn't mean gennin were no longer being promoted. And everyone knew Naruto was more than qualified to be promoted. Kiba looked sympathetic for him. Neji patiently waited for their instructions.

"But Baa-chan..."

Tsunade sighed. Somehow, she was always a sucker when it came to the last Uzumaki.

"Not this time. This is a B rank mission. The next C rank I assign you, I'll let you lead."

That was good enough for Naruto, and he whooped in victory. Tsunade had second thoughts about making such a promise, Koharu and Homura would give her hell about it, but she pushed them to the back of her mind. For now, she looked at the Hyuuga again.

"Listen up, your mission is..."

The sound of a coffee mug being harshly set on the table had Ino jumping out of reflex, her alertness flooding back to her and tired eyes cracking open. She hadn't even realized she'd drifted off. In front of her a cheery face from her childhood smiled warmly.

"Rise and shine, Ino-pig. It's not break time yet."

Ino huffed, inconspicuously stretching her legs behind the table and casually taking a sip of the already-cooling coffee. With the exception of long-term missions, it was required of her as a medic to report in for hospital duty for two shifts out of the week. Medicine is a living science, said the Godaime Hokage, you have to keep your skills current. And of course she got stuck with the morning rotation and of course Sakura would be a morning person. Hair that bright pink practically demanded that she have a sunny disposition - cherryblossoms favored the morning light.

Cosmos flowers preferred the afternoon.

Sakura fumbled in her pocket and pulled out a small packaged bun, offering it to Ino. The blonde recognized it as the favorite snack of the morning crew: a healthy pastry specially made to give an energy boost with over thirty vitamins and absolutely zero taste. Ino declined, and the pink haired medic slipped it back into her pocket. Ino scrunched up her nose and looked pointedly at the coffee mug still in her hands.

"Who made the brew this morning? Tastes like...sweat and mud."

She brought it back to her face to sniff it and Sakura did the same, shrugging afterwards.

"Dunno, but it's instant. And I guess the milk's gone sour."

Ino set it down and pushed it out of the way to be poured out later. Sakura sat on a corner of the desk, amusement playing across her features.

"You're so high-maintenance, Ino-pig. I don't know how Shikamaru and Neji deal with you. What with your morning grouchiness and all."

"Chouji thinks I have a wonderful personality."

"Chouji also thinks that feral wolves are cute."

"I fail to see your point, Forehead." Ino flipped her bangs out of her face in exaggeration, leaning her chin into her palm and pursing her lips haughtily. Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Sure you do. Anyway, what's it like working with the great Hyuuga Neji?"

Ino blew air and arched an eyebrow. "Overrated. Don't get me wrong, he gets the job done, definitely. His people skills however..."

Sakura crossed her arms under he bustline. "Oh? Is he not bending over backwards to fetch you a decent cup of coffee and a high horse to sit on?"

Unfazed, Ino flipped her wrist in a vague gesture. "Hm, that too. You'd think that getting married would've taught him a thing or two about women."

"Yeah, he's so...withdrawn. Kind of like how Sasuke was. Never lets anyone in."

Ino blanched. It wasn't that the comment surprised her, far from it. Many times on her first few missions with the Hyuuga, she'd compared his glacial demeanor to that of the last Uchiha. In fact, that was what had made it almost bearable to be around him in the beginning, before she got to know him better. Now she knew the two prodigies couldn't be more different from one another in every aspect from reasoning to tolerance levels. Now, Ino understood that Neji and Sasuke were different - appreciated it, even - but that didn't mean everyone else did, let alone how most people felt about the similarities.

She hoped Sakura didn't find the likeness appealing; being "withdrawn" had been one of the qualities that had drawn both of them to Sasuke to begin with. Before she could catch herself, remind herself that Neji was married and it was unlikely that Sakura would make any kind of move on him, Ino felt the familiar sense of fear curling in the pit of her stomach. She loved Sakura much like a little sister (still; in spite of recognizing her as an equal) but she couldn't help but to recall how Sakura had taken on something of a complex early in their childhood relationship. If Ino decided to wear a frilly skirt, Sakura would wear a frilly skirt. When she decided to grow her hair out, Sakura grew her hair out.

When she fell in love with Sasuke, Sakura fell in love with him too.

It wasn't intentional, Ino understood that much: Sakura had just admired her and it was completely natural to imitate a person you admired, and eventually Sakura had developed similar tastes to her because of that. But while the two of them had reconciled and buried the proverbial hatchet that was their rivalry, Ino had never entirely recovered from the sting of that fall out, could never quite trust the girl as closely as she used to. In the back of her mind, a paranoid voice warned she wants everything you have. And any shinobi worth their hitae-ate knew the golden rule of keeping friends close and enemies closer. Even though they were nineteen now and 'all grown up', Ino had the urge to make clear the unpleasantries of dealing with the Hyuuga.

To make him as unappealing as possible.

"He's a control freak too. Things always have to be done how he says and when he says so. He's so anal, he makes Yamato look like a slacker."

Sakura giggled. Ino hadn't meant to make her giggle.

"That's what makes him such a good team captain though. You should listen to him, you might learn something."

"Pfft. Learn how to make people piss themselves with just a glare, maybe."

Sakura's face smoothed into an expression Ino recognized as a sort of playful interest.

"You always liked guys with the intimidation factor. In fact, isn't Neji exactly your type?"

Ino's mood soured that much more. Was it just her, or was this discussion going terribly awry? The more she tried to redirect her friend's thinking, the more the green eyed beauty zeroed in like a shark smelling fresh blood.

"Oi! What're you two doing in here? Gossiping?"
A third voice cut into their conversation, coming from a dark haired woman standing in the doorway.
"The trickle of patients is starting to pick up. Please get back to work, Haruno-san. Yamanaka-san."

"Yes, Oyone-san."
"Yes, Oyone-san."

The senior medic vacated the doorway and disappeared into the hallway. Sakura slid off of the desk and Ino stood up, both heading for the door to go fulfill their day's duties.

Bright copper bangs nearly hid a pair of chestnut brown eyes Neji could feel staring at him from across the room. For the whole ten minutes he had been seated since being dragged into the bar by his teammates, the young woman had locked him in her sights and hadn't let him leave her gaze since. It was only a matter of time, he knew, before she realized that he would make no move to approach her and took matters into her own hands. At the twenty minute mark, the girl stood up and strutted over to his table. Neji was thankful there were only three seats; Kiba and Naruto occupying the other two.

"You guys hold your liquor pretty well."

Naruto and Kiba looked up, just noticing her after being fully engrossed in a conversation involving Akamaru's chances versus Kakashi's ninja dog summons. The girl paid them no mind, her attention directed soley at Neji, who pointed at his half-full glass of crimson liquid.

"This is cranberry juice."

Had the three of them actually been drinking alcohol, the table would be full of empty glasses and they still wouldn't be drunk, but that was beside the point. Anyone who regularly frequented a bar would recognize a non-alcoholic beverage instantly. Either this girl wasn't a regular, or she just didn't know her drinks. Going by her appearence, Neji judged she was the latter. She looked like the kind of girl who would only sip diluted, fruity-tasting drinks.

Copper Hair was undeterred, smiling at him like he hadn't just shut down her attempt at conversation.

"Is that your favorite flavor?" She leaned in, close to his ear and all three men stiffened in reflex from having their personal space invaded. "I know a great recipe for a mixed drink with cranberries. Would you like to come to my room to try it?"

Dog-like hearing picking up the invitation, Kiba snickered and leaned back into his chair, taking a gulp from his glass. Naruto followed suit, sensing the woman was no threat. He didn't know what joke Kiba was laughing at, but since he relaxed things must've been safe. Neji finally made eye contact with his admirer.

"I am married."

"I don't mind."

The Hyuuga's eyes narrowed and his voice dropped in warning.

"Nothing of you interests me."

Copper Hair frowned and her heels clicked loudly as she stomped away with her dignity in shambles. As soon as she was out of earshot, Naruto exclaimed.

"Wow, Neji! You resisted an offer from her? She's almost as pretty as Sakura-chan."

The blonde looked at Neji with childlike astonishment in his eyes while Kiba snorted.

"She's pretty alright, but Neji works with Angel Face, remember? He's probably immune to regular chicks."

It had escaped Neji's attention until that point that he was partnered often enough with the Yamanaka that some people automatically assumed they did all of their missions together. Probably the only two shinobi that were teamed together more often than them were Kotetsu and Izumo.

Neji arched a brow. "Angel Face?"

"Ino. Blonde girl, kinda short. Smells like wilderness and danger." Akamaru barked from under the table and Kiba nodded in agreement. "And lillies."

"You've been sniffing her?"

"When you got a nose good as mine and Akamaru's, it ain't a choice. And in the spring she puts that honeysuckle stuff in her hair and it's...!" , he smiled at the memory and paused, trying to find the words and failing. "She's a knockout. Asked her out once; she turned me down flat."

Naruto gasped and pointed at Kiba in disbelief. "You asked Ino-chan out on a date? What the hell, Kiba?"
Kiba shrugged, smiling. Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"You didn't ask Sakura-chan out, did you?"

"Hell no. She hits harder than a man! I like my face."

Naruto calmed down, his feelings completely transparent as he visibly relaxed then turned to Neji.

"Oi, Neji, how come you spend so much time with Ino-chan anyway?"

"I don't 'spend so much time with her', we work together."

Naruto put on his suspicious face, and even Kiba looked like he didn't quite believe that was all that was going on. Akamaru made a low sound and Kiba pat his head.

"Akamaru's right. You don't spend that much time with someone that smokin' hot and have a work-only relationship. It goes against nature."

Neji took a sip of his drink and fought to keep irritation at bay. "I am married."

Kiba snorted. "Marriage doesn't blind a man. Che, I wouldn't blame you. Put a steak in front of a man, and he'll eat it even if he ain't hungry."

Naruto had no idea what Kiba was talking about, but now that the conversation was started, he really wanted to know. "Well, how come you work together so often?"

Neji was starting to wish he'd been paired with Shino and Iruka instead of two of the loudest members of the Rookie Nine.

"The teams are decided by Hokage-sama. If we work together often, it is because Hokage-sama feels we work well together."

It made perfect sense when one thought about it long enough. One on hand there was Neji with excellent offensive moves, inpenetrable defensive moves, prime tracking skills and superior judgement. On the other hand there was Ino with high competency in all manners of information gathering, sabotage/diversionary tactics, and medical skills, not to mention techniques specific to the Yamanaka clan and practical immunity to genjutsu. Anything Neji couldn't see with his Byakugan or figure out with his genius, Ino could spot using someone else's eyes or extract from someone else's brain. Any fighters that were too much for Ino to handle, Neji could bring down. Any injury Neji couldn't avoid, Ino could heal. One represented an obvious threat while the other was an ace in the hole. They were complementary in every way - the kind of synergy shinobi dreamed about having - and together they easily devastated their enemies. Really, it was a wonder the Hyuuga-Yamanaka combination hadn't been done in previous generations.

Kiba rolled his eyes. If there was anything the Inuzukas were experts on, it was matters of instinct and nature. His nose was telling him something was brewing and after years of honing his senses for battle, his nose was never wrong. The Hyuuga might not see anything coming, but Kiba could smell trouble from a mile away. Let him learn the hard way.

"If you say so, man."

"Allright, Serizawa-kun. That should do the trick. Promise me you'll wait for your sensei to teach you the tree-walking skill before you try that again."

Ino peered down the young gennin, dislocated shoulder now carefully wrapped in a bandage to keep it from slipping back out of place. He tried to put on a brave face and pretend the injury didn't hurt, but she noticed how even though he kept that arm as stiff as he could at his side, he still winced as he hopped off of the high examination table. He muttered something that sounded suspiciously like 'I don't need his help' as he exited, grasping feebly at the remnants of his pride. Ino pushed the door open further once he was gone, signalling her availability for the next patient. A few minutes later an unexpected face walked in, limping, and Ino had to help her onto the table. She smelled of singed hair and sweat, and Ino instantly noticed the burn holes on her clothes and burn marks on her skin. First degree burns, Ino noted, and she turned to reach the antibiotic ointment and wrapping bandages from the shelves.

"Just back from a mission, Hanabi-chan?"

She nodded, dark hair falling into her eyes. She was the quiet type, the Yamanaka suddenly remembered, but decided to make small talk with her anyway as she carefully tended to the burns.

"Did your enemy have a fire element chakra nature?"

Hanabi shook her head. "No. There was oil. And then, fire. A diversionary tactic I was unable to avoid."

"Ah." Ino understood now, she had been wondering why there was no distinct pattern to the burns. Now she could tell that there was one - a loose liquid spray pattern from where the oil must have hit her. Her clothes had likely ignited when she came too close to the fire that came afterwards. "In that case, you did pretty well. None of your burns are severe."

Hanabi's gaze drifted from Ino's hands to the floor.

"Nii-san would have avoided it. I was careless."

Ino stopped as she finished wrapping part of the girl's arm and looked her in the face. She sympathized for her, living in her cousin's shadow and being looked at almost exclusively as just an alternate for her older sister. Being held to standards much too impractical for someone her age. Being trained for everything from shinobihood to Hyuuga leadership yet being promised nothing for certain.

"You made a misjudgement and you've already recognized that and learned your lesson. Mistakes will happen, Hanabi. You're entitled to them, you know. That's how you learn. Even Neji makes mistakes."

Hanabi looked up then, studying Ino's face with a level gaze as she considered her words.

"Entitled?"

"Yes. Entitled."

Hanabi's face softened and Ino went back to tending to her injuries. They lapsed into silence for several minutes until Hanabi broke it when the medic had finished the last wrap.

"I've never seen him look at anyone like that."

Ino looked at her questioningly, not catching the change in subject. Hanabi met her gaze evenly.

"Neji. I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looked at you that day."

Ino broke eye contact, hiding her surprise by turning her back to put away the extra bandage wraps and ointment. She knew what Hanabi meant the 'training incident' and she had never seen that expression on Neji's face before either. She couldn't even tell what it was exactly that crossed his features, but it was dark. Though she wanted to pretend not to understand the Hyuuga's implication, Ino got the feeling that pretending not to know what she was talking about wouldn't work. Hanabi was too straight-forward for that approach, and being fourteen she would notice insincerity immediately. Ino turned back around.

"Neji and I are teammates, Hanabi-chan. That's it."

Hanabi scooted off of the table, nodding in thanks for treating her injuries as she passed by. Ino thought the conversation was over until the young Hyuuga reached the door, half-turning to make one last comment.

"Tenten was his teammate once."

A / N : I lied, you has new chapter NOW! I hate dialogue, it's troublesome but necessary for the plot. Next chapter goes back to the action and NejiIno! No Tenten in this chapter because I didn't feel it was necessary. *evil voice* She suspects nothing! How's that steak lookin, Neji-kun? :D Sidenote: How come there's 37 pages of NejiSaku and only 6 pages of NejiIno? Wtf? To my Anons: I wish I could PM you guys =O but anyway, thanks for reviewing and it is coming (always has been) 'kay?