[OP: "Bitter Water"--The Oh Hellos]

"Did we ever decide how to approach the Tsuchikage about our quest?" Gaara asked Temari and Kankuro after breakfast.

"Not in so many words," Temari said, polishing her fan. "Dang it, I need to repaint these stars. That acid rain ruined the paint."

"Now they look like they're bleeding," Kankuro said.

"Ew!" Temari said.

"Hey, it's kind of cool that way if you ask me," Kankuro said.

"You're such a guy about stuff," Temari said.

"And you're such a girl," Kankuro said.

He got shoved out of the room with a gust of wind and nearly hit Shikamaru as he was lazily moving towards the exit.

"You never do that to me," Gaara said to Temari, quite calmly.

"Oh? Well, Kankuro is used to it," Temari shrugged, putting her fan back down.

"That right there," Kankuro said, coming back in and rubbing his head, "is why you've never had a boyfriend."

"And how many girlfriends have you had again?" Temari replied.

"This is not on topic," Gaara said.

"Sorry, I swear the heroes' habit of being too light about things is rubbing off on me," Temari straightened. "But I think we shouldn't hit Lord Onoki with all that right away. There has to be some way to ease more into it. Mei was one thing, but she's just...different."

"We have to do something here," Gaara said. "If they won't let us help them with missions, how else would we occupy our time?"

"The same as before, I guess. We could help them with stuff," Kankuro said.

"Would that satisfy them?" Gaara wondered.

"Hey." Wally poked his head in. "If you kids want any ideas, I do have a suggestion."

"I'm not a kid," Temari said. "20 soon to be 21, remember?"

"Oh, you're grown up, huh?" Wally said. "You must like younger men then."

Temari blushed. "What?"

"The point is," Wally went on, "I think the service idea is good, but you were a little worried about people thinking you were chumps, right? But it's still a thing for other nations to give each other gifts?"

"It can be," Gaara said. "But it has been a trap."

"Oh, they Trojan Horse it, huh?" Wally said. "Shine would be proud I made the reference. Hey, pro tip, smart people like it when you know about stuff they're interested in, even if it's just a little bit. Shows effort. Keep that in mind, Tee-Girl."

"Tee-Girl?" Temari said, in disgust.

"But hey, if you make the gift something right here in the village, you couldn't be sneaking in any trap, so what's wrong with that?" Wally said. "And it's less embarrassing for you that way, isn't it?"

"That's not a bad idea," Gaara said. "If we had any idea what they wanted."

"You could find out," Wally said. "Ask around. We want to meet the village anyway, right? Just like before."

"It's worth a shot," Temari said. "Unless you have a better idea?" she asked her brothers.

"I got nothing," Kankuro said.

"I like this one," Gaara said. "We tried doing some things in Mist that were unusual, and they work all right, but we should incorporate it into something more workable for everyone, not just us. Mei was kind enough to overlook our blunders, but I would make them less in the first place."

"It's bound to happen everywhere," Wally said. "No one is always going to get approval from everyone else, but shake it off, kid. If more people like you than don't, you're doing well--usually. I can ask around too."

"I hope you're not going to make us do this." Shikamaru stuck his neck in the doorway. "Because you did in Mist, and it was a huge drag."

"You'd rather stay around the house?" Wally asked him.

"I would, actually," Shikamaru said.

"Well, you don't get too slack off," Temari insisted at once. "You're coming. I'll tell everyone else...though maybe someone should stay here to guard our stuff, in case any of the guards decide to go through it while we're gone. I wouldn't put it past these people."

"Did they put guards outside again?" Wally asked.

"Yeah," Kankuro said. "But they're out by the wall, so they couldn't hear us. They're just there to keep other people out. At least I hope that's all they're doing. But who knows? The bugs in here could be spies."

"Gosh, you guys are weird." Wally shook his head.

* * *

Everyone was assembled.

Tenten insisted that she wouldn't be left out this time. She acted as if she didn't remember that it was her own choice to be left out the previous time.

Sakura would very much have objected to doing something she considered kind of demeaning, if it hadn't been that everyone else in her team was going to do it.

Surprisingly, Sasuke was not excluded this time. Shine said he could join them if he wanted to.

"Hey, did you get up to 10% trust?" Camie asked him jokingly.

"Did she tell you about that?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"Yeah, why? Was it a secret?" Camie asked quizzically.

"It's just...a stupid metaphor," Sasuke said.

"I thought it was funny," Camie shrugged. "Like you're a DBZ character. Your trust level is 5000 or whatever."

"Or like stupid Deku--'8% full cowling,'" Bakugo mimicked Deku's high pitched tone.

"You're really kind of gifted at those impressions, Bae," Camie noted. "Too bad you don't like doing comedy. His Brodoroki is deada-- hilarious."

"Anything mocking Todoroki would be humorous," Sasuke said.

"Whoa, was that a slight?" Dabi said. "You seem to be in an unusually chatty mood this morning, Puke Face."

"Stop calling me that," Sasuke said. "All of your insults are asinine, but that one is vulgar also."

"And it's gross," Karin agreed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"So is Sasuke," Dabi said.

"Take it easy, Touya." Shine tapped him on the shoulder as she walked by. "Don't rile him up before we get on the job."

"Yes, ma'am," Dabi said sarcastically.

Shine rolled her eyes.

"Why does she take that for him?" Sasuke said to no one in particular.

"Mostly, it's he's older than her," Camie shrugged. "What she gonna do to him?"

"So that's all it takes?" Sasuke said.

"Burnt Nugget Boy is a free spirit," Bakugo said. "Shine keeps him in line by recognizing that he's not gonna be bossed around too much. She gets him. Like she gets you."

"She doesn't get me," Sasuke said.

"Bro, you're here, aren't you?" Camie said. "She's good at getting people. But hey, you are kinda chatty, what's up? Did something happen to you?"

"Am I not allowed to talk now?" Sasuke bristled.

"Better if you didn't," Bakugo said, casually.

"Why don't you shut up instead?" Sasuke frowned at him.

Bakugo just smirked.

Sasuke realized that Bakugo might really be enjoying this... Was this just another one of his ways of pushing people?

"So he can dish it back?" Dabi said. "Who knew? He's a parrot as well as a cactus."

"That was less clever than colorful, bro," Camie said. "Anyone else just picture a parrot sitting on a cactus?"

"I did." Sai raised his hand.

"Hey, I'd be a little more worried about this," Suigetsu said to them, in a lower voice. "Sasuke would never want to help us do anything diplomatic. Maybe he's trying to ruin something. I think they should make him stay in the house."

"If he helps us out, the village will see that he's sincere and leave him alone," Momo said. "It's really hard to hate someone who's serving your village."

"Oh, they're ninja, don't underestimate them," Dabi snorted. "Well, let's just ask him. Cactus Boy, are you planning on screwing us over by throwing this whole thing today?"

Sasuke cut his eyes at Dabi. "I'm not answering to that name."

"You just did," Sai pointed out, innocently.

"Well, I'm not answering that question," Sasuke said. "I guess that's just a risk you'll have to take, since I'm part of your group now."

"Are we acknowledging that now?" Dabi smirked.

"Touya." Shine glanced over from where she was putting things into her bag.

"Whatever." Dabi threw up his hands. "Can someone else babysit him today? I think I'm pulling too much weight there."

"Maybe you should go on a diet then," Tenten said.

"Didn't expect you to make jokes, Hair Buns," Dabi said.

"Sometime I should just wear ponytails so he can't call me that," Tenten said.

"I think the hair buns are part of your image though," Hanabi told her. "He couldn't get his mind away from it even if you didn't wear them."

"Oh, you're just as bad as he is." Tenten frowned at her.

Hanabi shrugged. "You grown ups are all so serious. So what are we doing exactly?"

"Scouting around to see what we can do to help," Hinata told her.

"There's not as much fear of being spirited away in a village surrounded by walls," Shine noted. "So why don't we split into groups again? But mix it up a little this time, maybe. Shoto, Dabi, you're with me. Gaara, why don't you and your aides pick a group to lead too? And Momo, you can pick one. And Babe, you can too."

"Sure," Wally said.

"Wait, why don't I get to?" Bakugo said.

"Because you don't really do service that often," Shine said. "But if you show some growth, I'll think about it next time."

Bakugo shrugged. "Sounds like a challenge."

"You need better people skills if you're gonna lead this," Camie said. "You and I both, for real."

"So I can just pick whoever?" Temari said.

"Yeah, call it an exercise." Shine shrugged.

"But why don't I get to?" Shikamaru asked. "I'm a team leader also."

"You're too used to getting to pick things," Shine said. "I'd like you to have to be part of the team instead."

Temari smirked. "Then I think I have an idea."

"Big shock there," Kankuro muttered. "So who do I pick? I hardly ever get to pick..."

"Hinata and Hanabi, do you want to join me?" Momo asked.

"Okay," Hanabi said. "As long as we do something cool."

"Naruto, you too," Momo said hastily. She'd rather Naruto be with people who wouldn't encourage him to do anything stupid.

"Oh, okay." Naruto was just glad to be picked early.

Hinata smiled.

Sakura didn't want to be picked by them and hoped that Temari or Kankuro or Gaara would pick her.

"I'll take Camie and Shikamaru," Temari announced.

"Lol, me?" Camie said. "Why?"

"I realized I haven't worked with you that much. I probably should get more used to you," Temari said.

"But what about Bakugo?" Camie asked.

"Nah, not worth it," Temari said.

"The frick?" Bakugo bristled.

"How about you?" Temari pointed at Karin. "Girl with the chakra sensing."

"My name is Karin," Karin said.

"Sure, you're with us," Temari said.

"That will be a weird mix," Wally said. "Jugo, want to hang with me?"

"Sure," Jugo said.

"And Ino and Sai," Wally said. "I think you'd be great for the kind of thing I have in mind."

"We would?" Sai said.

"Heavy lifting?" Sakura said. "I guess Sai could make pictures..."

"Well, in that case," Kankuro said, "Sakura, you're with me."

"I am?" Sakura said.

"Sure thing," Kankuro said. "And the sword boy too. At least it looks impressive, and I want to make a good impression. And I'll take Bakugo, since no one else wants to deal with him."

"Frick you," Bakugo said.

"Hmpf," Tenten said. "Tacky."

"If that's how you feel about it, you can join us," Kankuro said. "But don't make any mistakes with that boring arsenal of yours."

"I'm more professional than you with that stupid getup," Tenten shot back.

Sasuke realized he was left out of this.

The others exchanged looks.

They thought Shine would say he was going with her, but she glanced at Momo and shook her head.

"You know what?" Wally said. "Maybe Naruto would be better in your group, Honey. You guys don't have a lot of dexterity, and he can make a lot of clones."

"That's a good point," Shine said. "Do you mind switching, Naruto?"

"Ah, no, that's fine," Naruto said.

Hinata looked a little disappointed.

Shine gave her an apologetic look.

"Sasuke, you wanted to come with us then?" Momo asked.

Sasuke looked around. "I guess it's more even," he said, as if it didn't much matter.

"Ugh, him?" Hanabi said. "He's such a buzzkill."

"Hush, Hanabi." Hinata didn't want her to anger Sasuke.

But Sasuke couldn't care less what someone who was 3 or 4 years younger than him said, and ignored it.

"I don't really want a group," Gaara said, as he hadn't picked any. "I'll just go with you, Shine-Kasa. I think it would be too small otherwise."

"Fine with me," Shine said. "Okay, happy hunting, everyone. Try to gauge what the village might need us to do. Make a good impression or at least don't make a bad one. And no one go anywhere alone or anywhere that's hard to see. And do not take any food from strangers, even if they say it's a gesture of good will. I think we learned our lesson from the last village about hidden threats. Break."

They broke.

* * *

"Was it just me," Camie asked, as she, Temari, Shikamaru, and Karin headed out to the North side of the village, "or is there a thing going on with Tenten and Kankuro?"

"What in the Land of Earth do you mean by that?" Shikamaru said.

"I dunno, they have some kind of rivalry going with the weapons thing," Camie said. "Didn't they start that up on the way to Mist?"

"How is it that you can't remember basic facts but you remember all the juicy details about our relationships?" Karin asked her.

"Because relationships are way more interesting," Camie said. "And I've got killer radar for that kind of thing. Don't you think there's something up there?"

"Well, they did act a little different," Karin said. "But they're both so boring, why would they be interested in each other?"

"I thought she liked Neji anyway," Temari said, glancing at Camie.

"Neji is long gone." Camie waved. "And he's probably got a girlfriend now. I saw how he and that Niji chick were. She's super cute, too. I liked her. And Tenten and him were never really a thing. It was just a lil' crush--she's probably over it. Don't you think she has more in common with your little bro anyway?"

"I don't know about that," Temari said, tilting her head. "Kankuro is a homebody most of the time and just likes to work on his puppets and keep to himself when he's not working. Not a big dreamer like Gaara, and not exactly a hustler like me. "

"So he's more just the ultimate middle child," Camie said.

"I guess," Temari said. "If that's a normal thing for the middle child."

"So Kankuro is basically like Choji?" Shikamaru said. "Just staying out of trouble?"

"Pretty much," Temari shrugged. "Which is fine. Not everyone has to be an idealist."

"But isn't that just what Tenten is like too?" Camie said. "Stays out of trouble. She's the type to just do her job and her hobbies too. And they both like weapons...even if one of them is more just into puppets. And they both don't like to be the leader, but they don't like to be left out."

"But those are just coincidences," Temari said. "That's not really an interest level. And I don't really see any reason to think there's something there. Besides, Tenten is kind of a pain in the neck."

"Why?" Shikamaru said. "Just you because you beat her in a fight?"

"Oh, not that," Temari said archly. "She's just a sore loser. Honestly, I just don't see anything remarkable about her."

"Not everyone has to be off the charts either," Camie pointed out. "Someone can just be normal, though not really normal. Us special people have to be compared to someone."

"Very humble," Karin said.

"Oh, I'm kidding, mostly. But seriously, just because you think she's uninteresting doesn't mean your brother would," Camie said. "And she's pretty cute. What's his type?"

"We haven't actually discussed it," Temari said. "You know, most people don't really care about this as much as you do, Camie."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Shikamaru said. "I've heard plenty of girls talk about this...just not the ones I know. Not ninja generally. But other girls."

"Ninjas have to be more serious-minded," Karin said. "It's a profession that doesn't leave a lot of room for relationships."

"Ugh, people say that about heroes, but we shouldn't have to be single just because we're working for the people," Camie said. "I'm glad Bakugo and I aren't about that. I kind of thought he would be, but turns out he thinks if you want something bad enough, you make it work. I'm lucky, huh?"

"In that way I guess..." Temari said. In other ways, she didn't see the appeal of dating Bakugo.

"But who cares?" Shikamaru said. "Their lives aren't really any of our business."

"Shika, you always say that," Camie said. "But, like, don't you really think you're so above all this because you never take any interest in other people's business?"

Temari started to laugh.

Shikamaru looked a little annoyed at Camie.

"Maybe she's right," Karin said. "You have to take an interest in other people sometimes. That's just life."

"I don't think working for Orochimaru counts," Shikamaru said saltily. "I didn't think you were so concerned about people's lives, Karin."

Karin looked like she'd been slapped.

"Hey, bro, that's not cool," Camie said to Shikamaru. "What'd she do to you?"

"I just thought it was out of line," Shikamaru said. "I don't need her advice."

"We don't need yours either," Camie shot back. "That doesn't shut you up."

Shikamaru was taken aback by her harshness.

"Hmm, and I thought you were only rude to me," Temari said to him, with a raised eyebrow. "Guess it's everyone."

"Oh, lay off," Shikamaru grumbled. "All you girls are always on my case... Why did I get stuck with all girls anyway?"

"Uh, duh, Shine thought you should learn what it's like?" Camie said.

"Shine didn't make me join this," Shikamaru said.

"If you have a problem with a girl leading a mission," Temari said, "you're really on the wrong team."

"I don't have a problem with it in general," Shikamaru said. "But you like to boss people around, and Shine likes to make them do things they aren't comfortable with, and both of those things can be a real--"

"--Drag," they all finished for him, even Karin.

"Gosh, you're predictable," she added.

"Perhaps if you took initiative, I wouldn't need to boss you," Temari pointed out. "Anyway, it wasn't my idea to split up like this. And maybe you should ask about why Shine didn't want you to be a team leader."

"I don't understand what I did to make her mad," Shikamaru said. "I haven't made any waves since that first week."

"Maybe that's it," Karin said. "I get the idea this Likstar-san likes people who put in an effort. I mean...all the people close to her are kind of intense. Except for West-san."

"Well, he never stops going," Temari said. 

"Maybe your first clue should be what you just said to Karin," Camie said. "I like you and all, Shikamaru, but you can be a bit of a jerk at times. Like, you seriously don't think through what you say."

"That, really? Coming from you?" Shikamaru said. "You say mean things all the time."

"But are you trying to be funny?" Camie said. "Anyway, we're talking about you. I'm not in charge, and I don't wanna be. I hate the stress of leading a team. I mean, it's just no chill at all, and people always want you to be level headed, and they get mad if you say crap to them. No fun. But you're not like me. I think, personally, that you like to lead just so you don't have to listen to anyone's ideas but yours."

"Now wait, that's not fair," Shikamaru said. "Usually no one else offers any ideas to me anyway."

"I wonder why," Karin said. "Maybe it's because if they try, you tell them they shouldn't have an opinion because of their past."

"I just meant that you don't have experience in this area," Shikamaru said.

"But you could say that to anyone, if they've never led before," Temari pointed out. "That doesn't mean they may not have potential. I think Camie might be onto something. Sure, you're good at using people's skills, but Shine cares about who can make people work together the easiest--who can make them become better. Is that a major concern of yours?"

Shikamaru frowned to himself. "If you mean do I try to inspire people, then no. It's not really my thing. I don't aspire to be a hero. I just want to do my job."

"Nothing wrong with that, in a shinobi," Temari said. "But in a leader? You have to want more. A good leader would raise up the person under them to a higher level. Anyway, that's what I see watching Gaara."

"Sis," Camie said. "Don't you put yourself down. You can slay too, queen."

Temari wondered how Camie had understood that she might be putting herself down there--it had been so instinctive that she hadn't noticed it herself. But now that it was pointed out...

"Is it rough?" Karin asked her. "Having your younger brother get all the glory? I mean...granted, he's an incredible kage, from all I hear, but you're older, and it seems like men usually get all the attention."

"Our Hokage was a woman till recently," Shikamaru pointed out to her.

"And the Mizukage," Camie said.

"She's not wrong, though. Plenty of people are sexist in the shinobi force," Temari said. "That's probably why I turned out so tough. The kids in the village used to kick sand at us for being the siblings of a monster. Or they ignored us. Well, one guy did chase me with a bug on a stick."

"Ah, that's cute," Camie said. "Didn't he have a major crush on you?"

"I guess," Temari said.

"That's not a nice way to show it." Karin shuffled.

"Some guys pick on girls they like," Camie said.

"By that logic," Karin said, "Suigetsu would have a huge crush on me."

Temari and Camie both turned to give her strange looks.

"What?" Karin said.

"Wait, didn't you know that?" Temari said.

"What?" Shikamaru said blankly.

"Huh?" Karin said, as if Temari had lost her mind.

"Duh," Camie said. "Suigetsu totally has a thing for you. Come on girl, he's always around when you're in trouble. He's always trying to make sure Sasuke doesn't do anything to you. He was totally jealous of Sasuke too. Do you really not see it?"

"Are you both crazy?" Karin cried. "Suigetsu hates me!"

"Did he ever say that?" Temari asked.

"Not in those words, but he says I'm unpleasant," Karin said.

"You are," Shikamaru said.

Karin glanced at him.

"But some guys like that," Shikamaru shrugged. "I don't care. Do we have to talk about this?"

"Shut up," Temari said. "This is important. I mean, it's not that big a deal, but that a woman could miss something like this just bothers me little. I thought that from the first couple days you were with us."

"See? She gets, it," Camie said.

"You can't be serious," Karin said. "Temari, I thought you were supposed to be smart. He's a jerk to me."

"Oh, he says crap." Temari waved her hand. "But who's always there to bail you out, just like Camie said? Someone who always watches out for your wellbeing can't actually hate you."

Temari didn't notice that she had just outed herself there, but Shikamaru was giving her a strange look.

"He talks a lot of smack," Camie agreed. "But he's definitely into you, at least a little. I mean, he lets you punch him when you're upset, though he doesn't have to...which kind would sound a little kinky, except that you can't really hurt him, so maybe it's just tolerant."

"That is so ridiculous." Karin was reddening. "And besides, he's gross. I would hate it if you were right about that...and he wouldn't like me. I used to help Orochimaru do experiments on him."

"Well, that is true," Camie said. "But you were kinda in a tight spot... Maybe he's just forgiving? I mean...Jugo and him used to fight brutally every day and he's fine with him."

"He is weirdly okay with that," Temari agreed. "But none of you people make sense to me. But if he's not your type, then who cares? It's just an observation. Why should you do anything about it?"

"I don't think I can forget that you said it." Karin was miffed. "It's going to bother me now, even if I think you're wrong... I think he just hates people being happy or something."

"But he doesn't really seem to hate anyone else being happy," Camie said. "Anyways, if he wanted to stop you from going after Sasuke, he was doing you a favor. And he was super worried about you when you and Sasuke went off alone. Like for real. He won't tell you, but ask Jugo--he was all about going after you guys. And good thing, too. I mean, Suck-suke did try to murder you. How can you like that, but not be a fan of the guy who tries to take care of you? Even if he's got a big mouth, least he's not stabbing you in the back."

"You all keep saying that to me," Karin said. "But how can I help my taste?"

"I think you can help your taste," Temari said. "Objectively speaking, one of those things is better than the other. I'm not saying to date the guy, but a little gratitude would be nice, that's all. I don't know anything about your weird Team Taka, but you seem close. Better than Sasuke deserves, probably. He sure does join a lot of teams for a guy who wants to be alone."

"Maybe he hates once they start feeling a little too much like a real friend group," Camie posited. "Taka didn't that way. Karin hated those other two at first, but then she got attached, even started to worry about them. At that point Sasuke broke it up. Maybe he just hates wholesomeness."

"How did you...know that?" Karin gaped at her.

"I know stuff," Camie said mysteriously, though in her tone, it didn't sound very intimidating.

"I find it funny that you hated them at first but not Sasuke," Shikamaru said. "What did he ever do for you anyway?"

"He saved my life, once," Karin said.

"Once, big deal," Temari said. "How many times did the others save your life?"

Karin was silent.

"Eh, all you chicks are too obsessed with looks." Camie waved her hand. "I like a good looking guy, but I'm not totes shallow. The inside matters too. If he's hot but rotten to the core, I ain't gonna be into that. Never did get what was so great about Sasuke. And plenty of the other guys are just as cute as him and have a better personality. Sai is freaking adorable."

"Hmm, shouldn't you really stop saying that, since you have a boyfriend?" Temari said.

"He wouldn't be jealous of Sai--he knows that I just see him as a little brother," Camie said.

"Sai is older than you," Shikamaru said.

"Mentally," Camie replied.

"He still might be older than you," Shikamaru replied.

"Oh, shut your face," Camie said. "You still haven't apologized to Karin--you shouldn't talk about being mature."

"I apologize to her, if I hurt their feelings," Shikamaru sighed. "Maybe I did assume a lot about her. But I don't know anything about them, and they never talk about themselves."

"Is that good enough, Kay?" Camie asked.

"I guess," Karin said. "You know...I didn't choose to work for Orochimaru... It just...happened. And I didn't like it, all right? I did it... I guess I did some terrible things, but I just did it because I had to. Kabuto and him were  always looking over my shoulder. I earned their trust, though, as a warden. It was my way to avoid being on the operating table myself. They have a few people like that... The thing is, you never get away from Orochimaru...so you should just do as he says. And I could be comfortable, as long as I went along with it."

"Maybe I shouldn't judge," Temari said, "since I was once very much that kind of person. But now that I'm different, it sounds horrible to me."

"It was what it was," Karin said. "Who has an easy or pleasant life in the ninja forces? I never had an easy time, but I survived. Suigetsu and Jugo are the lucky ones. You might think that we're monsters...but no one helped us. Sasuke had people looking for him, but we didn't... I'd have thought he would go back to Leaf, now that I know that...but it's not as if I knew about Naruto...  Now that I do, it feels very unfair. If I had known sooner, maybe..." She trailed off.

"Sis, it's fine." Camie patted her shoulder. "Orochimaru would drive anyone a little insane. And it's, like, not fair anyway. But at least you know now. So...maybe you are lucky in one way."

"Maybe..." Karin said, distantly.

"It does make you think," Temari said to Shikamaru in a lower voice, "that we know very little of what they went through. All of us have difficult stories. She's a real headcase--or at least we thought she was. But if any one of us had been stuck under that monster's control for that long and had no one to help us, would we have turned out any different? I think that's what Shine and Wally mean when they say we shouldn't judge so harshly...and that's in the book, too."

"So you really think I'm judgmental?" Shikamaru said.

"Did I say that?"

"You didn't not say it, and what you and Utsushimi said before did sound that way," Shikamaru pointed out.

"Who am I to know?" Temari replied. "I can be harsh  myself.  But, I tend to judge people more for their actions than their potential actions (or their personalities). I've never been that picky about that...but what people do, that's their character. That's what I care about."

"Somehow that's surprising."

"Why? Have I acted differently than that?" Temari was still defensive.

Truthfully, no, she hadn't. Shikamaru had not thought it before, but it was clear now that she had pointed it out. Temari was a harsh taskmaster over people doing as they were supposed to do,or slacking off...but she never had much to say about who they were or why. She stayed off that.

He, on the other hand...he did at times make comments on that, and maybe they were correct, but he'd been wrong a few times on this mission so far...or not totally right.

Camie was a space cadet like he thought...but she wasn't always one. Clearly she could be perceptive. She could be crafty, and she could be caring, in her own odd way. If he'd never been made to work with her and had avoided her because of her airheadedness, he would probably never have found that out. But if it had been his first pick, he'd never have picked her for a mission.

Perhaps he was missing something then...

[I think the issue here is that the show retcons things so often that it's hard to know what Shikamaru is really like. He seems to be more fair than other ninja, but he is judgmental also. It's possible for people to be both at different times, and that's where I take the middle ground. I know his fans will think I'm not being fair to him, but there's a lot reconcile in the canon with this fan take on it, so I'm doing my best.]

* * *

"So, Mr. West, what are we doing exactly?" Ino asked as they picked their way over the rock steps.

"Oh, you can call me Wally," Wally said. "And we're just gonna be neighborly. You know how it goes. Same as before."

"I don't really understand that," Sai said.

"Me neither," Jugo said.

"Hmm," Wally said to Ino. "Guess we have two lovably clueless dudes with us. Three, if you count me."

Ino smothered a laugh. "Why would you put yourself down like that, Mi--uh, Wally-san?"

"Oh, I'm just joking around," Wally said. "Some people think I'm too pretty to have a brain, but you know, that's all stereotypical. Anyway you've got people skills, right? Just do what you'd do in your shop."

"Ask them if they want to buy seedlings?" Ino joked back kind of wryly.

"Do you grow plants?" Jugo asked her.

"Oh...uh, my family owns a flower shop," Ino said.

"That's nice," Jugo said. "I like plants and animals...and they're easier than people."

"I agree," Sai said. "People make no sense to me, but I hope someday they will."

"I think I prefer birds," Jugo said. "All the people I've met wanted to kill someone or other, outside of this group. I'm sick of bloodshed. I'd just live in the woods somewhere."

"That sounds a little lonely," Sai observed.

"Perhaps it would be all right if my team visited me," Jugo allowed. "But I'm not a city person, I think."

Ino wondered if she'd have anything to contribute to this conversation at any point... As usual, she kind of felt a little like a 5th wheel, even when it wasn't between a couple.

"Ah, here we go." Wally spotted what looked like a construction site. "This looks promising."