Missions are everything

"Wow, this is where they are staying?", Ino exclaimed, looking at the very expensive looking hotel. A low whistle from Kiba came as he stared over the lobby of the building. "Man, I wish we were taking the exam from another village, this place is like a mansion!". Naruto had to agree with his friends but he hadn't exactly had the best experience with such costly places, seeing as he had lived in his apartment his whole life.

"Guys, remember we're not here for sight seeing. Kiba, can you find them?", Naruto asked making Kiba look at him funny. "Who made you leader?", Kiba joked with a grin before him and Akamaru began to smell the air. A minute or so later he growled, "No good, there's too many smells here and I keep getting the smell of the special coming from the kitchen!", Kiba said getting weird looks from the two blondes. "What? I missed breakfast!".

Ino rubbed her head in frustration at Kibas excuse. "Well that's just great. Now how are we going to track them?", Ino asked through her teeth as Naruto looked around before grinning. "Looks like we won't have to, Ino-chan". Naruto said as he pointed somewhere. Ino and Kiba looked where he was pointing to see the two mist ninja that came with the the girl, and apparently were being told what to do by here if their interaction in the classroom was any indication.

"Hey, you two!", Kiba said walking up and catching the two mist nin's attention. "We need to ask you something.", Kiba said loudly as the two ninjas looked at each other "We dont have time to waste on you!", one of them said and the other nodded. "We have to get ready for tomorrow, so leave us alone.", the other agreed. "Hey, all we wanted to ask you about was why you guys entered the exam since you're from Kirigakure no Sato. You dont have to be rude!" Ino said indignantly.

"Why? Why else would we do it, to become Chunnin, of course!", one said and the other nodded. "Yeah and if Haku makes it to the finals, then maybe mist will get more missions!", the other said. "Wait... Haku is the girl in your group, right? What does her getting into the finals have to do with missions?", Naruto asked as the two stared at him. "Wow your real bright, besides, what are you, her fanclub?", one asked as the other snorted. "Well if you must know these exams are how missions are divided to the countries"

"How is that?", Kiba asked as the mist-nin kept going. "A lot of the spectators at these things are merchants, businessmen, you know, rich and powerful types. They watch each country show off their finest new recruits like some show on stage, though this is far more important!", he explained, looking the leaf-nin in the eyes.

"If a country can show how strong they are, the clients feel they can entrust more missions to the country, and thus we earn the right for our villages to exist. Without missions, there's no money. Plain and simple".

Naruto saw the grim looks they gave as they talked, "Though in recent years, Kirigakure hasn't had many good ninja, and few and far between can even put up a decent cause for clients to come to mist to hire us. But all that's going to change when Haku shows what she can do with her Kekkei Genkai. Kirigakure is going to be a major country again, we know it.". He seemed so sure of the hope, Naruto had to give these guys credit, believing in something this much took a lot of faith.

"Wow, so she's that important huh?", Kiba asked getting a nod from the two. "She was taught by the best teachers we had back in the village. All her time was devoted to training and bettering herself for this day, hell, I think she spent more time in the Dojo than anyone!". The two laughed. "Haku-chan's really sweet, but I doubt she had much in the way of relationships, seeing how she was brought up, huh?", the Mist ninja asked the other and got a nod in return.

"Are you two talking about me again?", a voice called and sudenly both mist ninja jumped to a standing position as they stood like soldiers. It was then the three leaf ninja saw the girl they had just been talking about standing behind the two rigged shinobi. "N-No Haku-san, we were just talking to these three leaf ninja.", one of them stammered a bit as she smiled "Oh good, I hope you were pleasant, we are guests after all.", she said, the smile never leaving her face.

Naruto wondered what the deal was with these guys. First they acted all high and mighty, suddenly they were at this girls beck and call. Then again, he wouldn't want to mess with a girl who could freeze him on the spot either, so he could kind of understand them. Looking over the new group Haku smiled. "I'm Naruto and this is Ino-chan and Kiba.", Naruto said introducing them for the second time that day.

"Pleased to meet you. Well, as you must already know from my teammates, I am Haku.". She seemed to stare at Ino and Naruto a bit more before her smile grew.

"Ino, am I right?", she asked gettng a nod from the Yamanaka. "You're lucky, he is quite handsome. I have to admit, I'm a bit jealous.", Haku commented, making Ino blush bright red and quickly say. "Oh, umm... I-I have no idea what you're talking about!", Ino smiled nervously as Haku giggled. "Oh, I think you do.".

Kiba was wondering what this mist girl was talking about, though Naruto was just as nervous as Ino was at the moment. How the hell had this girl figured out that he and Ino were together? And that just by looking at them? "Oh well, I guess I was mistaken then." Haku said smiling as Ino and and Naruto gave silent sighs of relief, that was until Haku said "I suppose that means he is free game, then.".

'What did she say!?!?!' inner Ino screeched as Naruto wondered what the hell was going on. "Naruto-kun, you're my target now, and just so you know: My aim never misses." Haku smiled as she turned to walk away, smiling as she glimpsed the Yamanaka's angry glare as the challange had been made.

"You know, she's telling the truth.", the mist Nin said as he turned. "She never misses her target." the other finished as they fallowed after her.

"What in the name of nindo was that about?", Kiba asked cluelessly as Naruto laughed nervously in reply. "I have no idea, Kiba. Well, I think we should find the others now right? I mean, I wonder if they found the Otokagure teams yet.", Naruto said gettinga nod from his friend. "Yeah, you're right Naruto, Hey Ino, let's get going, I wanna find the others before I head home!", Kiba said as Akamaru gave a bark in agreement.

As Kiba walked away to the exit, Ino turned to Naruto with a worried expression. "Naruto-kun, what are we going to do? I mean, if she figured it out, then anyone could! And she's flirting with you!", Ino said in a whisper making Naruto sigh. "I dont know, Ino-chan. Look, no use getting upset now, right? When Tenten-chan and Hinata-chan meet us next time, let's try to talk about it then, it affects all of us, you know?".

Taking a deep breath, Ino calmed herself enough to nod with a smile. "Alright, Naruto. Now, let's get going before dog-breath catches on, too.", Ino said as they ran after their friend.