The moment it came into effect it was like a black cloud had consumed our village

They promised it was the beginning of something great

It would make us happy in the long run

Project NOBE

The beginning of the end

"Not Tenten, I know Tenten and she just wouldn't do something like that!" asserted Naruto.

Sakura shook her head with disappointment "I didn't believe it either she just didn't seem the type"

"Broken bones in twelve different areas. . . Would have been much worse if he hadn't been so proficient in taijutsu" observed Shikamaru, sounding a bit like Kabuto.

Lee's eyes opened slowly, it was like seeing through a fuzzy television set. "Hey guys" he managed to say between clenched teeth.

"Preserve your energy Lee, the doctor says you should try not to move" Sakura said maternally. He smiled weakly

"Sakura it's you", he attempted to give her a thumbs-up but the shotgun blast of pain quickly put that idea to rest.

"Is it true Lee? Did Tenten really do this to you!?" growled Naruto, the beast stirring in his gut. Lee shook his head and coughed

"Do not talk ill of Tenten. She had right to be angry with me", with that comment Shikamaru could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

"I know everything that went down on that mission Lee" his voice was raspy and he talked fast "From what I gather you two had a fight. Now I don't care what you two fought about, she attempted to kill her comrade and that is unforgivable!" Lee's eyes fixed on the ceiling. The ninja creed was simple: work with your allies to accomplish a mission. However Tenten fell into an entirely new category, traitor.

"I'm not pressing charges"

"You what!?" snorted Sakura. The accuser laid a hand on her shoulder and grabbed her to the side for a private conversation

"Lee is too nice. We can't exactly let her get away with that"

"I agree, justice will be served, I'll make sure of it" and it was. The next day Tenten had a knock on her door. Kicking and screaming they dragged her to the asylum for the mentally unstable.

Shikamaru was on a grassy hill with nearly every member of the original rookie twelve.

"So Shikamaru are you planning a big surprise party?" bleated Naruto, hands held behind his head.

"Nothing so grand, I leave those sorts of things to Ino"

"Hey!" protested Ino feeling a little objectified. Sure she planned his last three birthday parties but that didn't make her some kind of party junkie.

"Well let's go to the book store" announced Shikamaru with a devilish grin.

"What, but I- Hate books!" whined Naruto, leaning over to make sure Shikamaru understood.

They went anyway, after all Shikamaru often had profound reasons for what he did.

When they walked into the bookstore it was completely remodeled. Cardboard cut-outs of shuriken balanced on the ceiling, pictures of beautiful Kunoichi plastered onto every book shelf.

"Wow!" Naruto's eyes brightened as he saw the colorful mural depicting various ninja summoning larger than lide creatures. Especially the yellow-haired one with the toad. He'd like to think that would be him someday. A hero.

Shikamaru leaned over the counter "You really outdid yourself Roku" he remarked smoothly to the owner.

With a blush the shopkeeper replied "Did you come all this way just to see me?" her hair was brown and long like a wave. She hit a nerve with that one. It was true that he once visited her for books but they weren't as fun to look at as her cute smile.

"Actually I have a bit of business to discuss" his eyes darted from side to side. He swallowed to make sure his words came through clearly "Close down this store"

She paused and then shook her head stubbornly "This store is my life. If it dies I die with it"

"You don't understand. . . There are rumors." Shikamaru was known for his "rumors". Every prediction he made came true but this time she wouldn't hear a word.

"I'm sorry but if that's all you have to say then I'm closing soon" she whimpered, refusing to make eye contact.

"Fine" he said "But I swear if they come-" he paused to correct himself "When they come, promise me that you will do whatever they tell you"

Right now they were just rumors but after Jiraiya's untimely death Tsunade has been acting strangely. She refuses to see visitors and her adviser has leaked information of a "big project", a project to "maximize squad efficiency" and "neutralize casualties".

Shikamaru's head was ringing as his feet took to the sidewalk.

"I'm going to visit Neji" said Ino with a finger held to her full pink lips "It must be lonely for him with Lee and Tenten out for the count, any takers?" everyone agreed to come, Naruto especially knew that loneliness was only fun once a year.

With a knock on Neji's wooden door only a long ominous silence answered back. Naruto took it upon himself to peek from the window but just an empty room and lone pillow lay. Naruto noticed that the window was open so he crawled inside.

"Hey Neji come on out here! Come hang with us we're having a really great time and we want you to join us so-"His heart dropped when he saw him. Laying there in a pool of his own blood with arm twisted back in an unnatural way; if it wasn't for his long hair he would be unrecognizable.

"Hey guys get in here!" screamed Naruto. When they finally made it in they gazed at their friend with tears jerking at their eyes. Hinata was holding her breath, the cousin she loved wasn't moving, and she almost fainted as result.

"He's not dead" said Shikamaru with the courage to feel his temple. "We need a medic, fast" no sooner had the words left his mouth had Ino begin applying emergence first aid.

Her hands glowed as she attempted to mend his ligaments and restore his cells using her chakra. It was all too coincidental. Lee's injury, Tenten's arrest, and now a murder attempt on Neji.

What was this project Tsunade was working on, and could it be the root behind the tragedies?

Every fiber, every vein coursing blood through his body needed to know.