Inari smiled and handed Sakura a black mask that she has and tried helping her put it on. "Well at first its a really weird feeling and it makes you breath a little harder than normal but it usually shouldn't take long to get use to." Turning to Kakashi she slipped her arm around his and smiled brightly up at him, "No ninja powers once we walk out of the gate, it'll take us longer but will help the mission." She turned to the gate and waited for everyone to start walking there.

~~~

Shikamaru watched what all went down and chuckled slightly at Sakura's ruffled hair, she looked like she just got out of bed. Sighing he moved his hand to Alara's lower back in a form of motioning her to move forward. Smiling at his new girlfriend he patiently waited till she was ready.

~~~

Itachi was watching the whole thing go down and felt bad that Sakura had to wear a mask and hide the beauty that she was. He knew however he had to be a safe disstance away until he could swoop her uup and make her his bride.

Sakura put it on and realized it felt kind of cool to wear even though Inari said it would be different. "I like it" Sakura smiled walking next to Kakashi on his other side, if they did get attacked she knew that he would keep her safe.

~ ~ ~

Alara followed walking just as they began their mission and was hoping the necklace she was wearing as well as her crystals would bring her luck in keeping control. Then she slipped one necklace over Shikamaru's neck "This is called a protection crystal, it will help bring some luck" she smiled knowing Sakura had the other three watching her slip one over her own neck as well as her now parents giggling. "Wonder how long this will take?" Alara wondered out loud.

~ ~ ~

Sakura felt something odd like a presence and looked around her, but she didn't see anything. It felt familiar to her as she shook it away keeping up her pace.

Inari watched Sakura curiously, she had been acting funny and Inari didn't see her at the festival. Snaking her arm down she interlaced her hand with Kakashi's and looked up at him blushing, "You don't think I over did the outfit do you?" She whispered to him. Inari was scared of this mission. If Nova decided to come out she was afraid of what the group would think. Shikamaru saw Chouji's chakra wings, hers were a bit different being from a demon, but it was beautiful as well as terrifying. Biting her lip she awaited the answer of her current boyfriend, using her free hand to pat the backpack pocket on the side to make sure her book was still there.

~~~

Shikamaru smiled at her knowing what the crystal meant to her. Lacing his hand in hers he touched the necklace with his free hand, "Thank you babe." With that he kissed her cheek as they all started to walk. Shikamaru smiled over the group, he had a feeling that this mission would be extremely entertaining. Chuckling slightly he squeezed her hand and chuckled again. "This mission seems like it will be troublesome, in a good way though." He muttered to Alara.

"No, I think your outfit is fine, besides it ties all of ours together. At least now I know both sides of you" Kakashi spoke talking about seeing the darker and lighter sides of Inari. "I see you brought your book as well, let's hope our little girl didn't think of the same thing" Kakashi spoke chuckling just making a joke as Sakura spoke up "Oh, so it wouldn't be a good idea if someone caught me with the newest and latest edition of 'Icha Icha Paradise special edition' would it?" Sakura spoke after walking about three miles away from the village holding it up with a sly look on her face "Well, I can't see a reason why you two can have them, and your little girl can't" Sakura was now teasing the both of them since she was able to talk Jiraiya in giving it to Naruto to help him mature only so she could tease both the sensei' with it.

~ ~ ~

Alara smiled when she was kissed, being used to walking she could walk as long as anyone would need, and if only she brought a book with her. Though she did bring some art supplies which is normally what she would do on missions in free time rather than be bored. Looking up as she walked she enjoyed the way it looked, it all looked oh-so beautiful, and the sun was hitting it just right.

Inari's face went bright red, "I just like clothes like this." She heard what both of them said and facepalmed, "That's not nice teasing your dear old mother like that." She gave her a tsking sound and shook her finger back and forth before laughing. Looking ahead of them she was still read, "Sakura, the only reason I read these silly books is because I wanted to know why your father was so obsessed with them, which I found out rather quickly. Smiling she stole a glance at Kakashi and smiled at Sakura.

~~~

Shikamaru chuckled and pulled Alara close, his arm wrapped around her waist and he kissed her cheek again. "What's on your mind beautiful?" He asked winking at her and smiling chuckling as he heard Inari, Kakashi, and Sakura tease each other. It was nice, kind of peaceful. "Should we have code names or no?" He asked finally remembering that important role.

"So neither of you want this book, okay here you go guys" Sakura didn't say that she already read through the entire book all she said was "Let's just say your daughter is well educated now" walking with her hands behind her back and still smiling under the mask.

~ ~ ~

Kakashi's eyes went wide, obviously he hadn't gotten that copy yet, and there was only five in print as well as being sold out completely. "How did you get that!?" Kakashi questioned wanting to learn her secret ways as Sakura spoke "It's good when you have boys who like you, then you can get them to do anything for you, and not ask questions" Sakura beamed. Kakashi wanted use a ninja move and snatch it out of the air, but it landed right in Alara's arms.

~ ~ ~

Alara caught the book that went flying to her as she walked with them listening to Shikamaru. "Everything, I love being out here in nature, especially the wild, it's all so beautiful, relaxing..." she didn't know how else to explain it. "I was wondering about that" Alara spoke adding "I just call you guys by your nicknames, but codenames might be a good idea" Alara called Shikamaru as Shika, Kakashi as Kashi, Inari as Ina, and Sakura as Kura most of the times. Opening the book she began reading it, she was quite a fast skilled reader as something in the book made her turn bright red, and then threw the book towards Kakashi who caught it happily. "Y-you c-can h-have it"

Watching Sakura she gave a shocked look, when she threw it at Alara she spun to watch the other girl catch it and then snickered at her reaction. When she through it back to Kakashi Inari had clung to his arm and gave a puppy dog eyes. Knowing he was use to it because of his pack so she pressed her chest against his side and stuck out her butt as the puppy dog eyes got worse. "Please, please, please let me read it... Pleaaaassseeeee." She wiggled around a little.

~~~

Shikamaru watched the event unfold and watched as Alara's face went red.. He squeezed her side gently and bent to whisper in her ear, "Learning for future use weren't you." He kissed her cheek and stood up straight acting like he didn't do anything. Smirking he looked over at Sakura and gave her a nod of approvement. Squeezing her side again he wanted to actually tell her to remember it for future use, but he found that it would be very inappropriate. So he looked up at the sky with a blush on his face as he thought of other things that book held in it that he could use in the future. His nose started to bleed so he squeezed the bridge of his nose and held his head back.

Kakashi's face probably looked like 'oh crap' almost like a sad puppy knowing that he couldn't refuse any girl, let alone Inari, a request like that. Then something popped up in his head "Alright, but we get to read it later together" Kakashi thought of being all smug like that she could read it, but only if he could too. That way he got to read it.

As they walked Alara kept talking to Shikamaru with Sakura looking up at the trees staying silent wishing to see her love. Alara didn't make any motions or pay any mind as it was no one's business to get involved. Hours passed and soon the evening came when it would be to set up camp. "I will get the wood, Inari, Sakura come with me" grabbing both girls by the hands as they found a clearing with enough shade and shielding of nature. She wasn't looking for wood, but had in mind something else.

Inari nodded her head and smiled brightly, "If you can handle that." She said winking at him and giggling. The walk to camp was quiet, well quieter than she expected. As she was being dragged off she looked longingly at Kakashi, hoping he'd see that she wanted to be by him. She felt clingy but she liked the way she felt when beside him... She was extremely proud to have made him hers. As they paused in the clearing she finally asked, "Did you want to talk about something... or plan something?" She asked curiously.

~~~

Shikamaru walked over to Kakashi to help fix the camp up. Smiling he looked at Kakashi, "So can I borrow that book of yours?" His face turned red but he thought about the book and what all Alara and him could do in the future. This brought on another nose bleed. Wiping the blood off with his arm he looked at Kakashi embarrassed. "I've become some kind of pervert and I have no clue why." he stated openly to the man before him.

Alara smirked "Well we do need firewood, but I thought it would be fun to mess with the guys. Though if we can use our ninja skills because we would be caught, I do know of one more way if you guys want to join me in on the fun" Alara spoke wondering if the other girls had any ideas. "Like what?" Sakura asked.

~ ~ ~

Kakashi looked at Shikamaru for a moment with his eye raised "That just shows you are finally growing up and you can have this one" Kakashi spoke handing to Shikamaru one of the older ones he kept with him as they set up the tents.

Inari sat there for a while and scratched her head, making a face like she was so confused, well she whould if they could see her whole face. "I'll collect firewood as y'all think of an idea. I'll decide if I want to join in or not. I don't really know how to prank." She rubbed the back of her neck and sighed as she started going through the area the other girls were in. Picking up different sized wood twigs and what not. Once she was satisfyed with her pile she walked back to Sakura and Alara.

~~~

"Thank you." Shikamaru said as he bowed his head in thanks. Smiling he put it away as he helped Kakashi finish the camp site. "The girls have been gone for a while now... Do you think they are okay?" He asked Kakashi as Shikamaru was sitting on one of the branches of the large oak by the campside, he was enjoying the book Kakashi had given him, memorizing everything he read..

Alara smirked waiting for Inari to return after telling part of it to Sakura so that she would have to just watch. Sakura may not have known about things like this, but if she read the book that Kakashi normally would read. "Okay Inari, put that down and watch this" using a no tracing move, Alara smirked watching the other two for the perfect timing.

~ ~ ~

Kakashi jumps up to the branch to show him a page that was marked with a bookmark "This is an important section you will want to probably make sure to remember" then he jumped down about the same time something pushed Shikamaru off tree branch making Kakashi look back just in time to land on his back against the ground.

Inari watched and snickered, trying to hold the wood she gathered. With the most serious voice she said, "I didn't mean to walk in on you two. Shall I go looking for more wood?" She snickered after a moment and placed the wood in a neat pile and threw a match into it to start it off. Smiling she looked over at the two who were in the same position still. "Well you guys really should get a room." Winking she poked at the fire with a twig. Inari wasn't really much for pranks but this made her snicker.

~~~

Shikamaru felt himself falling when all of a sudden he was on top of Kakashi in a rather perverted position. As Inari walked up his face got completely red as he stared at her, at a loss for words. Looking back at Kakashi and back at Inari he looked slightly confused. As soon as Inari said that they should get a room he scrambled off Kakashi apologizing over and over again.

Kakashi felt rather odd in a situation like this in front of Inari "Wait, it's not what you think" he felt Shikamaru scramble off of him as Alara spoke "I just thought it was an accidental moment...uh you know like someone fell or something"

~ ~ ~

Alara had given a little wood for Sakura to carry as she followed with her own "Oh, um I didn't know you were like that guys" Alara made her reaction look surprised as Sakura just didn't know how to react. Though her face was red after seeing what happened "Okay, I think I am going to take a bath now, we'll be back soon boys" Alara spoke as she put her wood next to Sakura's pile. Alara grabbed her towels she brought with her as Sakura grabbed her own walking away linking arms with Sakura. "Coming Ina?" Sakura asked while both girls looked back at her ready to walk off to the water.

Shikamaru's face was completely red and it got worse when Alara said she was going to bathe, he didn't quiet know why the girl made him blush so much. Sighing he rubbed the back of his neck and kept his eyes on the ground. He heard Inari get up and follow the other girls. Sighing in relief as the girls left he looked at Kakashi. "Are couples sleeping together in their tent? or what is the plans?

~~~

Inari followed her new friends and giggled as she walked past the guys winking at Kakashi as she followed the girls. Linking her arm with Alara's she smiled and walked with the girls. Sighing she stood up letting her back pop and shook her head, "I'm getting old. " She said sighing, hating that her joints popped more than normal.

"To make it more believable yes, that is probably best. Sakura would have to pick a tent or sleep in her own. I believe she brought her own though" Kakashi spoke answering Shikamaru adding in "Girls make you act that way" talking about the way Shikamaru was reacting.

~ ~ ~

Alara laughed when they headed away from the guys and to the water, it wasn't a hot springs, but at least they had water to clean up after sweating most of the day in the hotter weather. "So are we sharing a tent with our men or what? And Sakura where are you going to sleep?" Alara asked, though she already had a sleeping bag, she hated to be farther away from nature than necessary. Undressing, she slipped into the water watching Sakura being the first one in saying "I don't know, I think I'll just use my own tent"

"I have a feeling it will be pretty interesting tonight." He mumbled loud enough for him to hear as he started pitching his and Alara's tent. He was nervous about it but knew he shouldn't be. Turning to Kakashi he asked, "Are you going to go bathe after the girls?" Honestly Shikamaru didn't feel dirty in the least but knew that he should.

~~~

Inari stripped down, leaving her mask on she slowly wadded into the water and sighed happily, "I hate walking it makes me feel dirtier than running. I don't know why." She mumbled. "As for sleeping arrangments you will be with Shikamaru tonight and I'm with Kakashi and Sakura it would be best to use your own." Inari soon blushed after knowing that what she said sounded like it had a dirty meaning behind it.

"After they get back yes, I think I'll go afterwards its best if we stick together" Kakashi spoke fixing up his tent with Inari in it. Kakashi helped keep the fire up as they prepared a type of meal for them that would be quite filling for the night with some bottles of water.

~ ~ ~

"But she should stay close to ours, maybe we can stick Sakura in the middle, either way I'll know if something happens to any of us" She could at least sense it if something would happen or be close to them. "This is going to be one awkward night" Alara laughed taking notice in Sakura's silence as she looked up at the moonlit sky. Alara cleaned herself up after swimming through the water for awhile and after washing her hair she went under water for a long time. She was known as the ninja that didn't need to breath while under water for she could be under there for long periods of time. After awhile she surfaced again. An hour had passed as the girls would wash themselves up.

Inari got out and was sitting by the bank wrapped in a towel when she started to pout. "I left my clean clothes at camp." She pouted even more. "So when yall are ready can one of you shield me from Shikamaru's eyes. I know he wont look but still it's embarrassing." Her cheeks were bright red and she was thankful for her mask.

~~~

Shikamru looked up at the sky as they cooked, "It's been a good while since they left, do you think they will be back soon?" He questioned the quiet man in front of him as he rubbed the back of his neck and sighed tiredly. "Girls are so troublesome and take forever doing anything... Troublesome indeed." He said looking back up at the sky happy that it would be a pretty clear night out.

Alara took a moment to think, they all left their cleaner clothes back at camp, except for Sakura obviously who was smart enough to bring hers. "Sure, come on. Wait, you don't mind Kakashi seeing you like this? That is going to make one hell of a night for Kakashi" Alara laughed hearing Sakura "I'll be back at camp in a bit, just go on ahead without me" Sakura seemed spacey, but she was like this before they left too.

~ ~ ~

"Yes they are troublesome and I am certain they will be back soon. Patient Shikamaru" Kakashi spoke pulling out his book as he began to read it again "Why don't you study a bit more to past the times, girls like to look their best around guys they like" Kakashi added.

Inari blushed, "That's not for you to find out about... or what does that saying go?" She asked Alara, "You go first and distract Shika then I'll go into Kashi's and my tent. Sound like a plan? Wait you are in the same as me... Well we could always just walk into camp like we own it and see what happens?" she shrugged feeling really stupid at the moment.

~~~

Shikamaru pulled out the book and read it, memorizing almost every page he read, a small blush slowly growing as he kept reading on. At one point he almost giggled like Kakashi-sempai did. Covering his mouth he kept a smirk in place, mentally bookmarking special pages.

Alara laughed "Haha, alright why don't we do this. If we're going back with towels on we could st least 'make' them look like clothes" Alara swept her hand across the towel making roses appear along Inari's to appear more like a dress. "There, now we just have to worry about the shoes and if anyone asks, we were goofing off" Alara could only think of that as she made softer flowers appear on their ankles. "At least we'll look good when we go back in, I'll still distract Shikamaru, I think I have a pretty good idea" nothing bad in her mind though.

~ ~ ~

Kakashi was glued to his book reading a part where the female character walked back in her swimsuit which you couldn't see under the towel that was hiding it. There were roses and other flowers around her every step she walked.

Inari was amazed by what Alara did, "How did you do that?" She questioned as she started walking back to camp. She planned to wear her outfit she was going to wear tomorrow to sleep in because she didn't want to rush getting dressed the next day. Sighing as they made their way to the camp she giggled, "I wonder how the boys will react." She simply stated as they finally got to the point where they could see both of them reading the bright orange book.

~~~

Shikamaru was entranced in the book, so much amazing stuff happened, he thought it would be all smut but it wasn't; it was actually a well written book. As he felt two chakra singnals approach he looked up and saw the girls. His eyes went straight to Alara. She looked so amazing to him.

"A little thing I do, just don't tell the others, okay? Just something we girls know" Alara spoke walking with Inari back to the camp site in their little attires she tweaked to look normal. Alara didn't feel embarassed at all, she felt like she was in her natural zone, and it had nothing to do with only having a towel on covered in roses. It was the roses itself and how she chose to walk back barefoot in nature. Walking over to Shikamaru with her hair completely down, semi wet, yet dry at the same time, the affect of the nature brought out more of the glow in her skin. "We figured we would try something new" making sure he wouldn't look at Inari she knelt down "What do you think? Did we over do it too much?"

~ ~ ~

Kakashi picked up on the incoming chakra he felt, he knew both to be Inari and Alara's. Wondering where Sakura was, he lost his train of thought as soon as Inari stepped into view, and it made his jaw want to drop. Though it didn't. 'Holy cow, have they been reading the book too?' he knew Inari hadn't read the newest one yet and that Shikamaru was reading the older one, in which both dealt with nature or roses. Though he was surprised when he looked at the book and back to Inari putting it in his pocket walking over to her "Wow, are you going to be walking the rest of the way like that?" he did like it, he wouldn't have much of a problem if the girls did decide to walk like that, but he wasn't going to say anything else.

~ ~ ~

Sakura had brought her other matching clothes to the previous day they left, but she stayed in the water with her eyes closed. She wanted so much to hear his voice, to feel her skin touch his, and to be with him rather than be here on this very pointless mission. They were to track down some crazy people kidnapping random couples for no reason, why should they even bother with such a low rank? Or did Lady Tsunade actually leave something out? Shaking her head she leaned back wondering where her Itachi was and thinking about the time that he gave her the ring.

Shikamaru put the book down in his lap as he saw Alara walk up, "Wow, you look beautiful." He mumbled remembering a scene sort of like this in the book making him blush a deep red. "Why are you wearing that, I mean you look absolutely stunning right now, but i was expecting pijama's.... I'm sticking my foot in my mouth huh? How troublesome." He mumbled looking at the ground when he noticed her knelt down and he titled his head to the side, "I don't care who else has it, all I care about is you." He whispered to her as he knelt down too, wondering what Alara had planned.

~~~

Inari understood exactly what she meant, it was like herself... and her teeth. So she would keep it a secret. Smiling as she walked up to Kakashi and tilted her head to the side, "N-n-no." She blushed red, "I forgot c-clean clothes." Her hair was halfway dried and some pieces stuck to her face. "I'm sure you'll love my outfit I have planned for tomorrow. I just kind of need to change into it now." She looked at her feet, kicking them slightly like she was shy.

~~~

Itachi wanted so dearly to get closer to Sakura, but he had to stay several hundred feet away from her so that no one would suspect a thing when he decided to "kidnap" her and make her part of the Akatsuki. She would definitely fit in with them. He sighed as he thought about how cute she looked today and wondering some other things that were more on the perverted side than normal. He just couldn't wait to get married to the girl of his dreams.