Konoha bathed in the pale light of dawn, already a silent hive of activity as dozens of deadly, trained human monsters rose to meet their daily tasks. Shinobi departed their homes and ghosted through streets and across the rooftops to gather teams, exchange guard duties and start patrols; just another day Konoha of mustering for the dangers daybreak might bring.

Amongst the waking covert warriors of the Leaf was the strategical advisor to the Hokage. He yawned and rose sullenly, eyes half-closed against the slight invasion of light that penetrated the blinds of his bedroom.

Departing the warmth of his bed and wife, he rolled out of bed with a barely suppressed grumble before stalking down into the kitchen. Grabbing cereal with no enthusiasm and letting it rest a moment while he collected the evenings reports, he sat heavily with a sigh before starting to read through for anything especially pertinent, knowing that any immediate issues had or were being dealt with by localised teams.

Long minutes rolled by as he absently ate breakfast, scanning the files with practiced ease as he mentally picked out the important facts. Flipping a page he then stopped and narrowed his eyes, rereading the documents in detail. He sat back, dropping the file on the table with breakfast forgotten, gazing out of the window with eyes absent with painful memory.

Shikamaru Nara glanced at the file again before rising sharply and heading upstairs to get dressed, dawns light lancing down onto the exposed page, the words "Cult of Jashin" written in red and gleaming crimson in the dawn.

The Hokage, leader of Konoha Hatake Kakashi, was apparently deeply involved in his own reports with a large folder held up easily in one hand as he quietly enjoyed the simple pleasure of the first tea of the day. He merely glanced over when Shikamaru opened the door, and noted the abnormally serious expression on his young assistants face. Turning to face Shikamaru, moving his file surruptiously so as to hide the copy of Icha Icha inside that he was rereading for umpteenth time, he regarded the young Nara man with a level gaze.

"You're early today."

"You've read the mornings reports, I take it. In between chapters of novel, that is."

Kakashi inwardly winced, but smiled and set the folder to one side. After all, it might just be an informed guess.

"Not all of them. I woke up late, as I was having a dream about being lost on the roads of li-"

"There are reports of the Cult of Jashin having confirmed presence between here and Suna, and at several points along the borders of Fire and Wind countries. There have been appropriate religious iconography found at several locations in these areas and more than five traveling groups of civilians have been attacked and wiped out, again with Cult of Jashin hallmarks left at the scene. I request authorisation to personally oversee the subsequent investigation, and further request the re-instatement of Team Asuma as the principle experts on the Cult of Jashin and Team Kuranai for support and as rural investigation and survival specialists."

Kakashi maintained his level gaze on Shikamaru, who looked back with the same calm expression, and Kakashi could see the old fire ignited behind those eyes. Tempered with wisdom and age, Kakashi noted to himself.

The white haired Hokage glanced at his desk to the picture of him, Asuma and Kuranai, taken shortly after they had taken on their Genin teams. He wasn't one for sentiment, but it reminded him of why he did this job, and now was no different.

"This can't be viewed as a personal matter, Shikamaru, I will require you to keep your head if I allow this. "

"Of course, sir."

"It will take time. Ino is still working for Ibiki, and Choji is...taking a break from active duties. Not to mention un-entangling Hinata from her current posting. Kiba is overseeing Clan issues and I am sure he will leap at the chance to take up a mission first chance he gets. I will contact the Abarame clan to find out what Shino is up to. You have a week to prepare, and to build up the courage to tell your wife. I am sure Temari will have some choice words to share with you over this..."

Kakashi smiled behind his mask, and Shikamaru sighed even as his stomach chilled at the thought of facing his...passionate...wife about heading off into the darkness against a committed murder Cult. He nodded his assent, turning to head back out of the room, musing on how everyone had moved on. Choji, pursuing a relationship with that foreign Kunoichi, Ino continuing on her fathers work just as he had. No-one had expected the events of the last war to change the quiet and shy Hyuuga so much as it had, and she had simply disappeared to most. As military advisor Shikamaru knew the truth, and had a few contacts in ANBU that were keeping him broadly aware of her condition as she slowly worked her way up their ranks. Even those vague snippets were chilling.

"Shikamaru...just be careful. We have no idea what they're up to, so take time to prepare and gather further data. We don't have Naruto to back you up."

Shikamaru thought back to the vicious battle against the two immortal Akatsuki, and how his blonde friend had come to fight by his side. He smiled sadly over his shoulder to Kakashi as he left the room.

"No. We don't. Naruto is dead. All we can do is carry on and hope we do him proud."