Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or anyone/thing mentioned in this story.

Chapter: 1

"You're doing so well as an instructor, plus you know the Ambassador personally. Didn't you wanted more serious missions? Acting as an escort to a Foreign Ambassador is very important." Tsunade leaned forward in her chair eyeing the young Chunin.

"It's not that," Shikamaru scratched the back of his head. "It's just the added workload. Besides, we're just acquaintances, it's not like we have any kind of relationship. To be honest I find her loud and bossy."

Tsunade looked down at her desk smiling to herself, then faced the Chunin nodding wide-eyed.

"Loud and bossy though she may be, the Kazekage thinks you are the right man for the job and I agree." She smirked when she heard a whispered "troublesome."

The Hokage finished giving him the particulars of his mission. Then, she gave him an encouraging smile as he opened the door.

"Think of this as an opportunity to further strengthen relations between Konoha and Suna. Please keep in mind that she is the Kazekage's sister. It wouldn't hurt to try becoming friends."

Shikamaru was glad his back was to the Hokage. He was able to play that last remark off with a shrug. Friends? That was asking quite a bit. The woman in question was troublesome. Still, he'd been thinking about the Sand Kunoichi off and on since she'd left Konoha the last time. Not to the point of distraction, but whenever two of his students worked especially well together he was reminded of the two of them fighting side by side against that swordswoman.

"Heh, saved your butt that time." he smirked.

Whenever Moegi showed improvement, he was reminded of her ambition to be a great Kunoichi like Temari. He thought she was on the right track. At least when it came to attitude. He wandered the late afternoon streets of Konoha. Hokage-sama said that Temari would be arriving tomorrow morning. Since he'd be escorting her around for the duration of her stay he assumed today was his last day of peace.

"Something tells me that looking at clouds won't be on her agenda."

He found his favorite bench and stretched out. He figured a nap was in order as well. He doubted the Ambassador would allow it once she was here. He spotted a particularly fluffy cloud. It looked so nice. Clouds didn't have to worry about escorting troublesome women.

"It must be so nice to be a cloud," he yawned.

o-o-o

"Up! Get up lazy!" Yoshino pounded on her son's door.

"Okaa-san, I'm not in there." A fully dressed Shikamaru walked down the hall.

"Shikamaru?" His mother eyed him suspiciously. "What are you doing up and dressed so early? Where are you going at this hour?"

Shikamaru yawned, "The Hokage assigned me to escort the Suna Ambassador around Konoha. She's arriving this morning, so I've got to go meet her."

"Suna?" Yoshino's mind was almost as quick as her son's. "You said 'her'?"

Shikamaru blanched. He knew where this was going. He also knew he wasn't going to like it.

"Wash your face!" His mother blasted, "you want to give this Ambassador a good impression of the Nara Clan don't you? And make sure you invite her to dinner tonight. Tell her we would be honored to have her in our home. Shikamaru! Are you listening to me? Don't you roll your eyes at me!"

He let the door close on that remark. Walking down the street, he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Che," he muttered, "the day's not even begun and I've got the prospect of dinner with TWO loud and bossy women."

He slouched against a wall just inside the gates looking up at the clouds passing by.

"That one looks like a fan. I wonder if it's a bad omen?" He crouched down to wait. "Too bad there's nowhere around here to take a nap."

o-o-o

She saw the city's gates were open. Proof that the village was at peace. Konoha would be her home away from home while preparations were made for the Chunin Exams. She thought back to her own exam and the shadow user who, for all sakes and purposes beat her. (Though she'd never admit that to him.)

If he hadn't given up, shocking everyone there, (herself included) she wouldn't have made Chunin that time around. Despite his loss, he'd been awarded the rank of Chunin anyways. A wise decision, even if his first mission as team leader was considered a failure. Still, his team of Genin had taken out the Sound nins that had kidnapped Uchiha Sasuke and had injured a group of Jonin.

"But then it was a good thing my brothers and I showed up to save your behinds." She smirked.

She remembered his tears and his vow that his next mission would be perfect. After that, they'd worked together at the Academy. She and her brothers filling in for a few months. He was good at what he did, she'd give him credit where credit was due.

She wondered how the little Kunoichi, Moegi was coming along in her training. She'd have to ask her escort to take her by the Academy so she could look in on both of them. (Of course, she'd never tell him that.) As she entered the village she noticed someone crouched down to her right staring up at the sky. She stopped.

"You…"

o-o-o

"That one looks a bit like a kunai if you squint," he muttered. Shikamaru was crouched in the same position, still staring up at the sky. Moving about on a warm morning was too troublesome.

"You…"

Speaking of troublesome. He stood up, yawned and stretched. He opened one eye to look at her and immediately realized he'd need both eyes for the sight before him.

Her kimono was so-purple-it's-black. A nice contrast to her golden hair and complexion. Her hands were on her hips, lips slightly parted. The surprise was slowly draining from her eyes. She smiled.

"You're up? Why it's not even noon. Shouldn't you still be asleep?"

He wasn't going to let her get to him so early in the game.

"Troublesome as it is, Hokage-sama has assigned me to be your escort while you're here. It seems the Kazekage requested me personally."

Temari was taken aback. So that's why Gaara insisted on sending that letter to the Hokage. That Bouzu! The very least he could have done was tell her!

"He probably just thinks we'd work well together." She shifted gears "Try to keep up okay lazy? I need to see the Hokage first thing. Then I'd like to get something to eat. Maybe that barbeque place my brothers and I used to eat at?"

"Sure thing" he yawned as they fell into step and walked to the Hokage's office.