50 Shades of Sand

Chapter 1 - The Meeting

"Ino, your mission is to go to the sand village and get a good understanding of their medical staff and report to me afterwards."

"Yes, hokage, but wasn't Sakura supposed to take this mission?" Why would she want me to go? Sakura is her head apprentice.

"You're correct, but she is on another mission right now with her team and is unable to do so. She suggested that you go along as her replacement." Tsunade replied. She held her hands in front of her face and had her eyes close. Her usual stance.

"Yes, Tsunade." I replied. I have never even been to the sand village and now I am supposed to review their medical standards?

"You will leave tonight and your team will accompany you to the village. This mission will be quick. It will only take you a couple of hours to determine. You will meet with the Kazakage. Sakura already had questions written down to ask him, so you may take these for you to use. Once you are finished you will return. It's very simple, yet very important. Do you understand, Ino?"

"Yes, hokage!"

"Alright, dismissed." Tsunade said as she got up from her desk to look out the window.

I don't even know how to begin for this. I have never visited the land of the sand before. The only thing I remember of it is from the Chunin Exams and what Sakura has told me about it. She said they were in need of some medical advancements and due to our alliance we are to help them. I am very trained on the medial staff, but I'm not sure I can really monitor their status. At least Sakura was nice enough to have questions written down for me. Gaara. He is the Kazakage from what I have heard from Sakura's explanation of her last mission there. I don't know much of him, besides the whole Chunin Exams. And that wasn't what you could call a great impression. At least I am not alone on this.

"Ino, what are you up to?" said Choji. Asuma and Shikamaru joined behind him.

"Nothing much, how about you guys?"

"We are heading to have some short ribs! You in? It's Sensei's treat." Choji and Asuma smiled, while Shikamaru shook his head.

"Of course!"

After dinner, I quickly went home to make sure I had all what I needed to bring for this trip. I was extremely nervous. The trip to the village took three days time. I don't even know what to expect in their weather.

I met my team by the gate and we prepared to leave. The trip was exhausting. As we grew closer to Suna, the days grew hotter and the nights became colder. We finally reached the gate to the sand village on the third day early morning. My stomach was in knots.

Two guards stood by the gate. "Who goes there?" One questioned while the other stared.

"We are here for a mission from the Leaf village, we are to be meeting the Kazakage." Shikamaru replied as he held the paper holding the information.

"Yes of course, Zuku will take you to the Kazakage building." The guard said as he pointed to the other guard.

We followed him. The sand flying through the air whipped at my bare stomach, legs and arms. My hair also smacked my face plenty of times as we passed through the village. I couldn't help notice how revealing my regular outfit looked in this village.

"Shikamaru, why do they seem to be staring at me?" I asked him quietly.

"People here are very conservative. You're outfit is rather... revealing, young lady." The guard spoke loudly which startled me. I panicked a little as I realized how much I stuck out. I had platinum blonde hair and a bright purple skirt and top. I stuck out like a teenage boy in a lingerie store. Then again, this is how I dress and I don't mind how people judge me. Yet my pale skin, glistened in the light and sweat that was dripping down my body from the heat.