Chapter 1: The Mission!

"C'mon, Neko," sighed a lazy Shikamaru. "We've gotta go to Tsunade to get my team's new mission."

I was playing with my little cat, Talon. Talon actually loved to be around Shikamaru; my best friend.

We had been close ever since I had come to the village, Konoha, nearly a year ago. I was also pretty close with his girlfriend, Temari. Temari was one badass person; almost as badass as myself if I may say so.

Shikamaru and I were nearly inseparable after we met, becoming friends very hastily, and he had introduced me to everyone he knew.

I was fine with all of them, except one, and he reeked of dog; Kiba Inuzuka. Yeah, I said it. He irritated me, because all he did was hate me. It was because I was from the Inari clan and he was an Inuzuka.

Honestly, I try my best not to listen to him, but we're like night and day. The worst part of it all was that Shikamaru was the leader of Kiba's squad, so he and I saw way too much of each other for our liking.

Shikamaru and I walked to Tsunade's office together.

When we arrived there, Tsunade was already talking to Naruto Uzumaki, Konoha's #1 hyperactive knucklehead, and none other than Kiba Inuzuka.

"…I want you to bring it back immediately!"

She was screeching at the two. They were sweat-dropping in nervousness when Tsunade finally turned and saw Shikamaru and I.

"Shikamaru! It's one thing to be lazy, but being late is nearly unacceptable! You will lead these two on an A-rank mission."

"Woah," Kiba said, his eyes wide.

"A-rank mission? This'll be my first."

Naruto pumped his fist, "Mine, too!"

Shikamaru shrugged, "Alright, but exactly what will we be doing?"

"You will retrieve a secret scroll. I believe the Hidden Sound Village has it, and we want it to keep it from falling into the hands of those who may use it for the wrong purposes. I'm sending this team because I know that you'll be successful."

Kiba laughed, his teeth flashing. "Damn straight we'll be successful."

"Hey grandma Tsunade…" Naruto began, scratching his cheek.

"I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT!"

Lady Tsunade screamed, slamming her hands down on the desk and standing up as Naruto ran out of the room in panic.

"Ok," she sighed, sitting down again. "You're excused."

The three remaining bowed respectfully and walked out of her office.

I couldn't help but notice how quickly Shikamaru took position between the Inuzuka and myself; he had become accustomed to this because he knew that if he didn't do anything, that we'd be all up in each other's face. Even though he knows that it's always Kiba who starts it, I always tried my best to stay the hell out of it.

"I'm not a complete idiot, Shik," said Kiba defiantly as I braced myself for whatever he was going to say.

"I know that pussy cat is over there. I can smell her from miles away."

My eyebrow twitched but I remained silent; I got shit like this from him every day.

Pussy cat. That was his nickname for me. I hated it, but sometimes I'd get him back by calling him dog boy, which really isn't an insult since everyone calls him that.

Shikamaru shrugged, "Try not to start anything, Inuzuka."

Akamaru popped out of Kiba's jacket and started barking at Talon and I.

Talon, being the calm and collective cat that she is, just flicked her tail, narrowed her eyes, and looked the opposite direction.

I smirked at that but still remained silent; I, honestly, hated talking to Kiba as much as she hated seeing him.

"Hey guys," Naruto said, coming up to them and rubbing the back of his head.

"Naruto," Shikamaru started.

"We have to go out on an A-RANK mission. If you don't already understand the importance, then go and stock up; we have 30 minutes to get out of the village if we're to arrive at the scheduled time. You too, Kiba. Meet up at the entrance to the village… and if you're not there, then I'll find replacements for you two."

The two nodded and hurried off down the street, even though I couldn't help but notice how Kiba turned his head and glared at me with a look of what I made out to be contempt.

Shikamaru turned to me and sighed, "Considering the time that it takes to get to the Sound Village, do the mission, then come back... This mission could take a month and a half, Neko."

My eyes widened as I stared at Shikamaru, who looked unhappy to be leaving me. He seemed to always think of me as a little sister, and he didn't like it when he left me to fend for myself.

He knew one of my greatest fears was being alone, and he hated to put me through that.

"I know. I wish I was going with you," I sighed, feeling the bitter taste of the pain I knew I would feel later sear my tongue.

Then, though, my eyes narrowed into little slits like they usually did when I was angry.

"In a way, though, I'm glad I'm not; I wouldn't want to have to deal with KIBA all day and every day for an entire month and a half."

I spat out his name like it was rotten.

Shikamaru seemed like he couldn't help but laugh at that and said, "In a way, I'm glad you're not coming too. It's ranked A because it's a potentially dangerous mission. I don't need you getting any injuries. You've only just become a Chunin..."

I laughed, "I take pain well and you know that..."

"I know… but still."

The two of us walked to the entrance to the village, the gates, and I noticed that it was deserted at this time of day. No one was awake, which made it quiet and peaceful.

We sat down and began to talk, knowing that this would be the last time we'd get to for at least a month.

Naruto/Kiba's POV

Naruto and Kiba both hurried off to the Ninja Tools shop to pick up food pills and stuff for their long trip.

"Hell yes," Naruto said as they ran through the nearly deserted streets.

"Finally, a mission we get to do, AND it's interesting!"

"You got it, Naruto." Kiba, also excited about the mission, was laughing at his enthusiasm.

They reached the shop, and Kiba got three bags of food pills and some extra kunais, while Naruto got 4 bags of food pills and muttered, scratching his cheek.

"We should go get some ramen. On me?"

Kiba smirked, "Sure."

They hurried to the Ichiraku Ramen shop, Naruto's stomach growling the entire way there.

Once they had arrived, they sat down, ordered Miso ramen, and started to eat once it was ready.

"I'm glad it'll just be the three… I mean four of us," Kiba said, when he glanced at Akamaru hanging out of his jacket.

Naruto shrugged, "I kinda wish that Neko was coming with us. She seems to calm Shikamaru down, and he's worried she won't be able to cope with being in the village without him."

Kiba stopped eating for a moment and glanced at Naruto, astounded at how well he knew Shikamaru's feelings.

"I'm sure pussy cat will be fine by herself. There aren't any threats in the village, so why is he so scared?"

Naruto shrugged, slurping some noodles down his throat.

"I remember him telling me it was something about Neko's past that he doesn't want her to relive. He didn't tell me anything more than that, though."

Kiba glared at him indignantly, "Why doesn't he tell me anything like that?!"

"Because maybe," Naruto countered, glaring back at him, "He thought you were going to say something insulting about her."

Kiba snorted, "He's probably right. What ninja can be a ninja if they can't take care of themselves?! I don't understand why he wanted her and her stupid cat to become ninjas in the first place..."

Naruto's were eyebrows knitted in thought, "I don't think it's because she can't take care of herself, Kiba. It's something else."

But before he could speculate exactly what he thought was the reason why Shikamaru didn't like to leave her alone, Kiba muttered unhappily, still quite shaken that Shikamaru would leave him out and fill his teammate in.

"Let's pay and get to the gate early. The sooner we start on this mission, the sooner we're outta here."

Since it was on Naruto's tab, he paid and started off for the gates.

Neko's POV

I was talking to Shikamaru about exactly what I would be doing while he was gone: missions, keeping the house clean, daily training with Temari... all sorts of stuff, but that's when I heard the most horrible voice:

"Hey, pussy cat,"

Kiba's teasing voice could be heard as I turned to see him standing behind Shikamaru and I.

"It's a great thing you're not coming on this mission. I wouldn't want cat smell in my nose all day." He sneered.

I sighed; it had been over a week since I had responded to any of his insults, and honestly, I was tired of it.

"I don't even want to go. I'd rather stay here and do nothing than be on a mission with you."

Talon mewed in what seemed like agreement, and I felt my face light up in a smile.

Kiba's opened his eyes wide for a moment, then smirked at me in a very mean way.

"C'mon, Shik, Uzumaki; let's go and get that scroll."

Shikamaru looked back at me for a moment as he stood up and sighed.

"Dammit, looks like I have to go."

He hugged me. "You had better take care of yourself, ok? I'll be back in a month and a half. If you need anything, you can talk to Temari, and-"

I hugged him back, cutting him off.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine," I assured him.

I watched Naruto from the corner of my eye sneak up to Shikamaru's side.

"I'm sure you will be, Neko."

I stopped hugging Shikamaru and looked at Naruto.

His blue eyes looked nearly tearful, but he smiled one of his normal smiles, which really reassured me.

I could feel my eyes getting teary and wide.

"I will. Now, you three, including Akamaru," I glanced at the dog hanging out of Kiba's jacket and continued. "Have fun on your mission. I'll be waiting for you to return; I know you will all be ok."

I felt a small, bright smile light up my face as I looked between Naruto and Shikamaru.

Kiba rolled his eyes, turning his back to me.

"This is touching and all, but let's just go."

He began to start off, and I watched Naruto glare at his back.

"I'm sorry, Neko," he looked back at me, earnestly, then turned.

"Let's go, Shikamaru."

Kiba was already out of sight, and Naruto was almost unrecognizable underneath all of the trees, even with his orange jumpsuit on.

Shikamaru, though, turned around to look back at me as soon as he got to the tree line.

Then, he took one last look, and he was gone.

First chapters are always terrible, aren't they? Ok, so I'm re-editting all of my stories to make them easier to understand and read, as well as fixing some mistakes that I see. Also, it'll be in first person, so... yeah. Rate/Review! :)