Chapter 1

Shikamaru lit a cigarette and let it dangle carelessly from his lips. Once a year, he visited Asuma's grave and shared a smoke with him. Although it had been 6 years, Shikamaru still missed his former sensei.

"See you soon, Asuma-Sensei." Shikamaru whispered before he left the grave. A slight smile formed on his lips and he looked into the clouds. Shikamaru knew Asuma was looking down on him from the sky.

"Shikamaru!"

"Kaijin, hey," Shikamaru replied to the young boy. Sarutobi Kaijin was Shikamaru's godson. Asuma's last request was for Shikamaru to watch over Kurenai and his unborn son. Shikamaru remembered that day like it was yesterday. "How are you today?"

"I'm good, Uncle. Are you going to teach me some ninjutsu today?"

"Eh, maybe not today. I have to leave on a mission tomorrow morning. I need to get my rest."

"Aww man, but you promised!" Kaijin whined. Shikamaru held back a chuckle.

"I know. When I return, we will train together and I will treat you to ice cream after. Is that a good deal?"

"Hmm, can we train with Naruto-Sama?" Kaijin asked.

"Now, now," Shikamaru kneeled so he was eye-level with Kaijin. "You know the Hokage is very busy. He cannot just train with us whenever he wants to. But I will ask him." Shikamaru added. This answer seemed to satisfy Kaijin who ran off to tell Kurenai he would be training with the Hokage one day.

Shikamaru laughed. Kaijin was very much like Asuma. He was lively and eager to get better every day, even at his young age of six.

"This shouldn't be a difficult mission, Shikamaru. But it will be a long one. Just remember not to get complacent. Although it is simply an escort, it may get complicated." Naruto said.

"Heh," Shikamaru laughed. "Look how the tables have turned. A few years ago I would have been the one saying that to you." He said.

"You're right." Naruto laughed as well. "Time has certainly changed the village hasn't it?" Shikamaru nodded and remembered how Naruto used to act. He used to be impatient, immature, and idiotic. Now he was level-headed, smart, and much more responsible and mature.

"Anyway," Naruto continued. He looked out of the glass panel wall over the village. "All the intel you need is in the folder I have given you. You are to leave first thing in the morning. Send me a report each day. I don't expect complications, but follow the procedure anyway."

"Understood." Shikamaru bowed. "Oh, yeah, I promised Kaijin I would ask you to train with us when I return. You can say no, but I had to ask."

"I'll make some time for it. I owe you one anyway. I'll just have Kakashi take over for me. He really should be the Hokage instead of me…" Naruto said.

"Don't say that. You worked hard to." Shikamaru consoled. The truth was, Kakashi probably should have been the Hokage. In a way, he was though. He was more of a co-Hokage than a "Senior Advisor to the Hokage" anyway. The village elders and Feudal Lord appointed Naruto party to be able to control him more directly. Having been Hokage for 3 years now, Naruto proved his worth. However, at the time Naruto was appointed, Kakashi was the obvious choice for the job.

"I did." Naruto looked off into the sky as he spoke. "You and I both know the actual reason I was appointed Hokage. Kakashi was still stronger than me at the time. I may have passed him in skill since, but he deserved the chance."

"I was never in favor of the limelight, Naruto. You know that." Kakashi said, seemingly from nowhere.

"I didn't hear you enter." Naruto said to him.

"I know." Kakashi replied. He smiled underneath his mask. "You are the strongest ninja in Konoha, and probably the world. You are the true Hokage. There is no doubt about it." Naruto smiled. "You are very much like your father. He would be proud."

Naruto just remembered that Minato, his father, had once been Kakashi's sensei. Naruto nodded to Kakashi and dismissed Shikamaru. He looked over the village one more time before returning to his paperwork.