Namu Ami Dabutsu, Asuma Sarutobi by Melinda-chan
In case you've already forgotten, this one-shot will reveal major manga spoilers. You've been warned.
Now that's done with, let this one-shot begin!
Shikamaru was still smoking the cigarette a few hours later.
He didn't go to his funeral. There was no way that he could show his face after failing so miserably at protecting him from his black-robed murderers.
He hated them. He hated them all. Still, he was too level-headed to be like Sasuke. No, he was willing to learn from his mistakes, and he knew that he couldn't allow time to go by before facing the ones that killed his teacher. Part of being a chuunin was taking responsibility, and what kind of person would he be if he knew what was right and then did not do it?
Of course, it helped that he wouldn't be alone in this endeavour.
He didn't have to tell his teammates what he was thinking when the crying stopped and his body was removed. All he had to do was give them the "look" and they knew. All they had to do was give him enough time to think up a plan. He knew that any plan could fail, but even if they failed, at least they would've tried.
No, he wasn't going to let his murderers get away with it.
His teammates, Ino Yamanaka and Choji Akimichi, now approached him. He didn't need to look up at them since he could see their shadows on the ground.
"Are you ready?" Ino said. He took a puff from the cigarette and looked up at them at last.
"Yeah" Shikamaru said. He then took a good look at Ino and Choji. With their teacher's guidance, they have grown up to be not only top ninja but responsible and mature as well. Within a few years they might have a chance to be jounin. However, they were willing to throw that chance away just for this self-appointed mission.
When they first met him, the biggest impression they had of him was that his cigarette burned their eyes. But his teaching ability and respect won them over. It was obvious that despite a few flaws that he was an excellent teacher, wanting them to not only think and act like ninja but also be overall responsible, mature adults. If they could give anything back, it would be to take responsibility for their failure and bring his murderers to justice, even if they would lose any privileges by doing so.
"Let's go," Shikamaru said. They all nodded. Even if they fail and die in this mission, they at least did something. With that, they proceeded to go out of the village in private and into the unknown. Shikamaru could count on Ino's mind-control ability to find the murderers and Choji had his own skills as well.
And most of all, they had an unquenching thirst for revenge.
The End
I don't think this was exactly like the manga but it's very close if it's not. Naruto was created by Masashi Kishimoto and distributed by Shueisha Inc. and Viz Media. Please don't forget to review!