9 replies to this topic

[desaix]

Well, I certainly don't have time to write such a fic, but I had an idea which I've seen successfully executed in certain other series' fanfics successfully, but never in Naruto. (doesn't mean much -- I can't have claimed to have read all the Naruto fanfiction out there, can I?) It's not so much of an idea, though, that I could plot it out myself without a lot of work, and it's not something I could work into Training with the same sort of impact... but it would make a good challenge.

The challenge is: Write a fanfic where a Naruto and Sakura (eighteen or older, please) who haven't yet started dating (but could be anywhere along the line between part one and where they're considering it) are forced to go undercover as a wedded couple... but make sure there's a plot to go with it. (No 'instant love confessions' or anything like that -- all romance must be WORKED for)

[MBKon]

hn... might as well try myself, do i have to post it on ff.net tho? i'm working on soc right now so...

[princess_dexter]

Hmmmmmm.

You know, I'm really tempted. The only thing is finding a plausible reason for Tsunade to give them such a mission...because apart from that, I have an embarrassing love for these sorts of fics. Forced intimacy leading to an even more comfortable relationship leading to LOVE!

*ahem*

But yes, if anyone could help me with an idea for the mission, I could give it a go.

[Vespar]

Man, that's an interesting concept... I'll give the idea a try I suppose, but I'm already swamped with a whole lot of different fics I'm still trying to write...
(One of them being a concept that I haven't seen done yet)

[Canis Black]

Mission: Long term spying mission on either enemies OR allies. Their cover (read: jobs) could be anything you like. It's been done many a time, but you could have them as traveling salesmen, or taking into account Sakura's medical talents, she could be a healer and he her husband/assistant (borrowed from Ruroni Kenshin/Samurai X by the way).

Note: This is for those looking for a reason for them to go undercover in such a way.

[Kevin]

The main problem that I see with assigning Naruto and Sakura a long term, covert, infiltration assignment is that both of them seem to be predominately combat oriented in skills and temperament, and have been shown to have little if any experience in covert infiltration. Throughout the post time skip both of them have always at least attempted to charge straight into combat. Even in the latest chapters, while Sakura has not engaged in combat she was just as eager as Naruto up to the point that Kyuubi started coming out. After that she hasn’t had a chance to reenter combat, being first unconscious and then being in shock. This means that Sakura doesn’t view herself as part of the rear-echelon support (as her medical training would indicate) and Naruto has always been found where the fighting is the thickest.

In addition, neither of them appears to have much experience or training in covert infiltration tactics. While we don’t know what they did/learn during the time skip, I would speculate that most of the time was focused on training, medical techniques for Sakura and combat techniques for Naruto. Part of the reason behind getting Naruto out of Konoha was to avoid Akatsuki. Since two ninjas training in high level combat techniques would probably draw quite a bit of attention if done near and developed areas, and Naruto probably spent most of their time avoiding cities, as opposed to being undercover.

With their specializing in combat, it will be a misuse of two effective ninjas to assign them to a long term covert infiltration which they don’t have any particular skill in. The mission would have to be long term (longer than a month) if there is going to be enough time for any sort of relationship development to occur during the mission. This means that the only reason that they would be assigned to such a mission is if there is a need for either combat oriented ninjas, or a need for Naruto and Sakura specifically, to participate on the mission. I can see three types of missions that could match those criteria.

The first is to have Naruto and Sakura provide backup to an infiltration team. This would require a situation where the target either has a large amount of defenders directly covering it or has a large amount of potential reinforcements. Most likely this would mean that the target is a relatively well defended one or in the immediate proximity of a hostile hidden village (where there will be an unknown number of ninjas not related to the target but who would still move to assist if a fight breaks out). I would assume that any team that focuses on infiltration probably has reduced skills in a combat situation. Since such a mission would have a likelihood of sustain combat if detection occurs, it would make since to have a combat team available if necessary to create an escape route. This situation minimizes the weaknesses of both teams, the combat team only has to infiltrate the town surrounding the target (and not the heavier defended target area) and the infiltration team doesn’t have to fight its way out if detected.

The cover story only needs to explain a single move (arriving at the city/town the target is located in) and only needs to hide that they are ninjas. To achieve this, the cover story would need to avoid any connection ninja’s or to ninja techniques. In this case a young trader setting up a small merchandise stand (or ramen stand) would be best. It is visible enough that the infiltration team can make contact without any problems, but shouldn’t stand out otherwise. Having Sakura as a traveling medic has the risk where she would use a medical jutsu, potentially causing people to look more closely at their cover.


The next mission would be if it is learned that Akatsuki is preparing to make another attempt at capturing Naruto. This would probably require for more than just Itachi and Kisame to be going after Naruto. Since I doubt that Naruto would like the idea of just hiding instead of attacking them head on, Tsunade could give Naruto a mission (without telling him of the reason why) if she feels that Naruto is not ready to fight them and needs to go into hiding for a few months while preparations are made to counter Akatsuki. The most viable cover mission would be to investigate the border situation between Fire Country and one of the neighboring countries. This would have a low enough risk (after all you don’t want Naruto to be killed/severely wounded while trying to keep him safe or in a fight large enough that would attract Akatsuki attention) but enough risk that Naruto wouldn’t think it unusual that he was assigned such a mission. By having them investigate the whole border or part of it, Naruto and Sakura are kept a moving target, never at a particular town or city long enough for Akatsuki to hear about.

In this mission, the cover story has to allow a lot of mobility and has to ensure absolute anonymity for Naruto, since Akatsuki is actively looking for him. In this case either a wandering trader or medic could work, but I think having Sakura being a medic would work best. Since the culture of Naruto’s world seems to be a mix of the feudal era and the modern era, it is possible that the gender roles outside of ninja society matches that of the feudal era. This means that if they travel as a trader, Naruto would be the more visible of the two. While if they traveled with Sakura being a medic as the cover story, it would be Sakura being the more visible of the two. Since Naruto needs to be kept hidden from Akatsuki, this is the better of the two covers. As for explaining the mobility, if they could have Sakura either recently having finished her training and looking at where would be a good place to settle or to have her training only partially completed (due to the death of her mentor) and have her traveling to learn what skills she is missing.

The third mission would be to serve as a training mission. For the reasons mentioned above, Naruto’s career will probable focus on the combat side of being a ninja. However, if Tsunade wants to help him in his goal of becoming Hokage, she would probably want Naruto to experience the full range of ninja missions. However, telling Naruto that it is a training mission would probably be unwise, so giving him an easy covert mission would work. Here just about any cover story would work.

As for how long each of the missions could go. The first would probably take anywhere from 1-4 months; depending upon the distance from Konoha to the target and whether or not they need a cart to carry any merchandise they would need a few weeks to over a month of travel time, up to a month at the target establishing their cover story and conducting general reconnaissance of the target, about a week once the primary infiltration team arrives for them to conduct a in depth reconnaissance of the target, and if they were not needed to cover the escape of the infiltration team about a week after the mission to leave without drawing attention to them. The second mission would have the greatest flexibility, depending upon what mission they are officially given to get Naruto out of Konoha. With my suggestion of a border reconnaissance it would probably be at least a month and up to a year, plenty of time for any character/relationship development. The third mission would be the shortest, probably only a few weeks at the most. If the mission lasts too long the gain will be outweighed by the impact of taking two effective ninjas out of circulation.

[desaix]

Heck, it could just be a young couple supposedly on their honeymoon as their cover for a relatively short-term mission, nothing long-term... that's what I initially considered, in fact. Mission types? Um, perhaps protecting someone else in their 'honeymoon' hotel without their knowledge or something like that?

[princess_dexter]

The third mission would be to serve as a training mission.  For the reasons mentioned above, Naruto’s career will probable focus on the combat side of being a ninja.  However, if Tsunade wants to help him in his goal of becoming Hokage, she would probably want Naruto to experience the full range of ninja missions.  However, telling Naruto that it is a training mission would probably be unwise, so giving him an easy covert mission would work.  Here just about any cover story would work..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've been giving it a bit of consideration myself and I'd come to much the same conclusion, that a take on this one would be the most viable solution to the "reason" problem. To counter any strangeness at Tsunade putting Naruto and Sakura specifically together, I think they're probably actually the most logical to pair up. They're both on the same team and they're both (probably) her favourite young shinobi. She knows that while they antagonise each other, they respect each other, and they work well post-timeskip, as evidenced by getting the bells.

Who else would she send, on a mission like this, anyway? To ensure at least a front of closeness, the pair would have to be from the same team, so the only other good choice I can see is Shikamaru and Ino, and neglecting them could easily be explained in the fic by having one or both of them on a mission already. Hinata and either Shino or Kiba wouldn't work because Hinata's too timid to do anything, period, and she's also the heir to the Hyuuga, and too important to endanger. The same with Neji, to a lesser extent, although he and Tenten could possibly pull such a mission off, as they both appear quite level-headed.

Regardless, I think Naruto and Sakura are quite a good choice for a mission like this, and as soon as I've finished the chapter I'm working on at the moment, I'm going to give the challenge a shot. This could be so much fun...

[Aaron Nowack]

It's not quite what the challenge is looking for, but Aliora's Fitting the Pieces is pretty close.

It also suggests another reason for such a mission - Tsunade playing matchmaker.

[Vespar]

Old Post edited so it's not a double post.

Click For Spoiler

Garret Pi's Point of Origin comes pretty close, I suppose. They're not on an undercover marriage, but are accompanying Tsunade to a gathering of other leaders (as is other supporting characters). However, though the couple do drift closer together, the fic hasn't been updated in a long while.

I think I'm on the verge of an idea. I'll try to plot it out first and if it doesn't inspire me, I'll post it for anyone interested.