When one's world comes crashing down on them, at least metaphorically, an emotional breakdown can, and almost always will, masterfully appear to add further insult to injury. When one's world is taken from them however, a tremendous outburst of rage can, and every case, can and will explode from that one person. The enlargement of their rage does not expend from them due solely on anger, for that one person is also scared.
When he heard the first few words of Tsunade, the current Hokage of the great hidden leaf village, Nara Shikamaru knew, without a doubt, who his target was on this "rescue" mission. And he knew, for all intents and purposes, why he had been requested.
Godaime Hokage stood there and repeated her first few words to the Nara once again, "our target is a high profile Suna-nin ambassador who, shall we say, has more than one tie to Konoha." Shikamaru knew the last statement was directed to him as he could not help but notice the sly look Tsunade sent his way, half smile and all. "Our intel suggests she is being held in a simple village. Sounds pretty cut and dry right? Well I'm sorry to burst your bubble, Naruto cut it out! The village leader she is currently a possession of turns out to be a missing-nin by the name Kenshin. His village will have its fair share of missing-nin he has so kindly accepted. Dangerous and stupid. HEY BRAT CUT IT OUT! Where was I? Oh yea, I'll be damned if this is anything but an S-rank mission of the highest necessity. I shouldn't have to say it but bring her back in one piece…oh and don't forget, the village should be considered hostile. Kill anyone in the way, got it?"
Shikamaru looked around the Hokage's chamber, first spotting his closest friends, the rest of team 9, the rather large and plump Akamichi Choji and incredibly beautiful and vane Yamanaka Ino. As he silently, and quickly, observed, to his slight delight, they both nodded with hard looks of determination on their faces. As Shikamaru continued his circling of the room, he spotted the dog master Inuzuka Kiba and Akamaru, his canine companion, the loud mouth hero of Konoha, Uzumaki Naruto, and the bushest of brows, Rock Lee. His gaze did not linger long enough to witness the response he knew the three boys would give any day.
The Nara's gaze finally fell back on to the Godaime before he spit out, "you women are so troublesome. It really is a drag that I have to save her." "Shikamaru, I swear it won't kill you to show how you really feel." Tsunade muttered back. Shikamaru simply nodded his head and responded, as if he had not heard her comment, to the rest of his team. He really pondered over names for this new team until he settled on one. Team Tema. "Meet you bastards at the gate in half an hour." "Woooahhh, Shikamaru! Granny just said that we have two days! And since when did you voluntarily move fast? " Naruto began his tirade. He really can be as lazy as I am thought Shikamaru. "Sorry man, as the leader of Team Tema(did I really just let that slip?!), it's my call on the time and I'm saying half an hour.", Shikamaru half-heartedly, and a little sharp, told Naruto. Kiba decided it was time to interject, "you got it boss, everyone at the gate in thirty." "If I may," interjected Ino, "Team Tema? Does that mean" Shikamaru was quick to interrupt her. "Make it fifteen."
Shikamaru made his way out of the office standing taller than usual, but as he passed through the door, he slouched deeper than ever before. 'Why Temari? Why not that ass Kankuro? Temari, I swear you're rather troublesome.'
As his mind wandered, along pace with his subconsciously quickened feet, he finally glanced up from the road to see his arrival at the main gates of Konoha. Surprisingly, at least to Shikamaru, the rest of his team seemed to be waiting on him. "You said fifteen lazy ass, you're at fourteen. What the hell is up?" Naruto demanded. Choji knew his best friend and teammate better than anyone, so his sharp look at the loud-mouth shinobi caught almost everyone off guard. "Didn't you hear the team name idiot? T-E-M-A. TEMA as in Temari. Of the sand. As in the lo.." Ino began to announce before being cut short. "Troublesome, so troublesome" sighed Shikamaru as he put his palm to his face. "Ah ha! The fires burn even in the laziest of youth! You have my full backing Shikamaru-san!" shouted Lee so enthusiastically Might Guy himself would have been proud.
"Are we done here? Sigh what a drag." Shikamaru pulled out a cigarette and began to light it with Asuma-sensei's trusty lighter. The Nara began to think to himself silently. The loss of his dearest teacher, his mentor, friend, father figure had been tragic. It affected him to the point of showing no mercy to the Akatsuki member, Hidan, who dealt the death blow to Asuma. His sensei had such an impact on him that he even picked up smoking as a way to feel like Asuma was still there.
Despite that, Shikamaru was sure that eventually the smoking would fade, just as the missing piece Asuma left would be filled with, what Shikamaru hoped, Temari. Losing the troublesome kunoichi from Suna would be everlasting. There was no habit he could pick up, no chore he could do to keep occupied. He was certain that if he did not die from the news, he would surely take every single mission he could obtain that would risk his own life by merely stepping out of the gates of Konoha. Shikamaru came to the conclusion, though he knew all along, that if he could not get Temari back, he would die trying.
Shinjo village was only a four day hike, however Shikamaru and his team were determined to make it in one. Naruto lead the pack with Kiba, Ino and Rock Lee followed suit, with the lazy genius of Konoha and Choji hard on their heels. The Nara had plotted the formation out, quickly and effectively, based on skill set. Kiba and Akamaru, his trusty canine companion, had acute senses of smell, to the point of smelling killing intent and small traces of chakra. Naruto's basic senses were heightened due to the Kyubi currently sealed within him. Ino and Lee were a good fit for the middle due to Ino's medic-nin status making her a priority protection, and who better to protect the violent violet than the green whirlwind of Konoha, an insane physical beast and taijutsu genius.
Shikamaru decided on, seeing as there was not much of another choice, himself as the rear guard due to his genius and shadow techniques, which seem to come in handy for a possible escape. It also helps that he had seceretly begun to dabble in mastering some rather legendary techniques. And with Choji by his side, he felt safer knowing his best friend, teammate, one-third of ino-shika-cho, his brother in all intents and purposes save blood, was backing him up. His aim was one day, but Shikamaru realized that his make shift band of brothers was wearing down after little more than seventeen hours. As such, he announced they would be making camp, and continuing at the crack of dawn.
He sat down, back leaned against a tree, and put his fingers together in the infamous thinking posture of the lazy Nara. No one would dare disturb him, realizing in his pace and movements, not to mentioned the whitened knuckles of clenched fists most of the journey, that he was serious. Too serious for Shikamaru.
Choji began to whip up some grub for his friends, noodles, roasted squirrel Akamaru was kind enough to hunt down, vegetables, and spices found by Ino. Lee and Naruto decided to stay out of the way by playing rock-paper-scissors turned wrestling match. Shikamaru had not moved since they stopped for camp, and Ino seemed to be the only one slightly worried. The beautiful blonde kunoichi walked over to Shikamaru's current thinking space.
"Hey, Shikamaru? Uhm, I know you're busy daydreaming or whatever, but there's food, and well, I'm here to listen, ok?" When he lazily cracked open one of his eyes and looked at her, Ino felt her heart sink. She had never seen her life long teammate look so lost, so hurt. It hurt her to see her Shikamaru so distraught, though she must admit she felt a tinge of jealousy for Temari. To have a man look prepared to do anything to retrieve his love is something Ino thought existed in her dreams and in manga. She was jealous no man would be so prepared for her.
And, in an instant, the look was gone and his classic, lethargic look returned. She heard him sigh and watched him close his eyes and return his hands together. "You guys should eat, I haven't finished thinking of my endgame." Ino knew better than to ask questions, so she told him once more to remember she would listen, and returned to the rest.
"Is lazy ass comin' or can I eat?" Naruto inquired, drooling at the sight of the smallest of feasts. "Eat up fellas, we have a serious marathon to run tomorrow." "Is he okay?" whispered a visibly worried Choji. "I think he'll be okay, we just need to let him plan and think. You know him, Choji."Ino said. Choji could only respond with "yea…I guess you're right"
Without changing his posture or opening his eyes, Shikamaru pulled out one of his trusty cigarettes, masterfully lit it with his trusty lighter, and took a long drag. When he finally exhaled, the cloud of smoke passing his lips, continuing a few inches forward before rising upwards, he looked at his friends. His closest friends. A small sigh escaped him as he realized they were all so willing to assist him, not out of a favor, but because they cared. Did they know or even understand the feelings that forced his hands to flick that lighter? They all knew it was Temari they were after, but did they understand why Shikamaru was so desperate, not that they would notice it. He was always too calm, always maintaining his cool. Yes, Ino had blatantly pointed it out at the beginning of their journey, but was that enough to express it? Shikamaru took another drag from his ever burning cigarette and decided on showing them. They were his best friends. They should be shown.
Lee had already finished his meal, alongside Naruto and Choji, when Shikamaru finally stood up and headed to his group, his team. He could hear Naruto's loud mouth bragging about mastering the Rasengan in all aspects. Lee's eyes were wide in admiration, as Choji merely looked with a small smile. Kiba, despite his rather rough attitude, was also smiling and making compliments.
Ino, however, appeared as though her thoughts elsewhere. He knew she was thinking and worrying over him. At that moment he realized she must have noticed his momentary lapse in his character, his waivered laziness. He could not believe she picked up on it so easily. A small upturn of the corner of his lips appeared. 'Man, for a women, she's not too bad.', thought Shikamaru. "Hey, loud mouth, shut up for a minute. I have a few things to say."
Naruto looked angered for a moment, until he saw the look in Ino's face. A look of pure anger, malice, only equaled to the one he had saw Sakura use on him. He remembered that fine event as if it were a scar on his physical body.
Hyuuga Hinata had been with him and Sakura, and the poor shy girl had her index fingers tapping together when she suddenly stopped walking. The Haruno noticed first, who then snatched Naruto's arm back with such force he could not help but turn abruptly towards the Hyuuga girl. "What is it Hinata?", inquired Naruto, most definitely sincerely. "well…uhm..no…well…y-yes." Hinata struggled mightly for severly minutes before Sakura was kind enough to help her out. "Just tell him Hinata, it'll be alright!" she whispered to the Hyuuga. "Hai.,"she whispered back before continuing, "N-Naruto-kun, I-I have to tell you something." "What is it Hinata?" "well…I, uhm, I like…well..uhm really like..you, Naruto-kun", she announced with the reddest of faces. Sakura looked pleased and extremely proud of Hinata, while Naruto beamed his well-known grin. "I like you too Hinata! I think you're awesome. So! How about that ramen guys?" Naruto simply responded, visibly crushing Hinata. When he turned towards the pink haired kunoichi, her face was in such a rage that the jinchuriki felt as though Yamato's famed scary face was nothing more than a baby's smile. "What? What did I do?" he asked in a whimper before Sakura erupted into a volley of verbal spears. "YOU IDIOT! You're the stupidest, most unobservant, ignorant, slow, oblivious ass hole ever!" she shouted at him, as Hinata watched on in such fright her index fingers stuck together. "Uhm, it's okay, really…it's not that big of a.." the quiet girl interrupted by the still fuming volcano of pink. "No, it's not okay. You've loved him since the academy and he's too stupid to notice! Naruto, you're such an ass!" "Hinata-chan? Is that true? You don't mean like like that huh?" Naruto seemed stunned, as if all the subtle hints smacked him all at once. "well…uhm..y-yes..", she managed to stammer before hitting the ground in her signature move, that of passing out.
Naruto finally managed to come back to the present with a slight smile on. Without that incident, he would have never found the woman who's love would spur him back to his goal of becoming hokage. He mentally noted he should thank Sakura on their return to the village. Shikamaru decided to let his stupidity slip by this time and start his speech.
"So, I assume we are all on the same page with this mission. We find Temari, get her out of there safe and sound, and return to the village. There is a big reason I was chosen for this mission. Every one, again I'm assuming, knows that I'm the personal guide to the Suna ambassador when she's in Konoha. We've known Temari since the chuunin exams, so it's not too big a surprise to know we've developed a friendship." "We all have with the sand siblings my man,"added Kiba. Shikamaru nodded in agreement before continuing, "What a drag. Do I really need to tell you guys?", Shikamaru spoke, more to himself than to the group. "What is it Shikamaru? We're your friends, you can tell us whatever" Choji decided to nudge his friend on, guessing on what it was. Shikamaru toyed with something in his pocket, before pulling a closed fist from the depths, his other hand remaining in his pocket. When he turned his palm upwards, and opened his fingers to reveal what was in his hand, there was an audible gasp from the entire team.
A simple silver, circular object lay in his palm with a small diamond firmly planted into one side. A ring of simplicity from the simplest of ninjas. Ino was the first to speak, knowing full well what this meant. "Nara Shikamaru! I didn't know you had it in you, you stud you!" Choji, of course, spoke next, "Is that..what I think it is? You know she's Gaara's sister right?" Shikamaru sighed aloud before answering, and quieting the group, "Last time I was in Suna, I discussed it with Gaara. He agreed that a blood tie to Konoha would be a great strengthening tactic for Suna. It was troublesome to try explaining to him that I couldn't care less about tactics at this point." After a few minutes of shock, and Rock Lee's explaining to Naruto, Shikamaru replaced his most precious item back into the security of his pocket before continuing his speech. "As I've said, and hope all of you deduced, I was chosen by Lady Tsunade because of this. I had asked her awhile back to request me as a team leader for any mission involving Temari. Of course, I had to tell Tsunade my reasoning before she'd agree." As Akamaru yipped, Kiba spoke, "hey man, whatever floats your boat. Can't say she's my type though, I mean she's a pretty decent eye candy but that temper, sheesh." Ino could feel the anger rising from her far too often nonchalant and pacifistic friend. Before the Inuzuka could say anymore, Ino made for a group congratulations to the Nara, and suggested they head to sleep for an early start on the morrow. Lee decided to take first watch on the uneventful watch, followed by choji, then kiba, then ino, with Naruto and Shikamaru splitting the last watch before waking the team and preparing for the rest of the journey.
Upon the restart of their journey, Shikamaru decided the next phase of his plan should be enacted. "Alright everyone, it's time to put up the headbands and vests. From this point on, we are no longer leaf shinobi. We are simple travelers looking for a place to stay."
"Aye aye captain!" exclaimed Naruto. Everyone removed all traces of their Konohagakure ties and placed them in their individual bags. "Before we proceed, I think we should go over my plan." Shikamaru stated. "As always, you've planned ahead huh Shikamaru?" teased Ino with a wink, knowing her longtime friend had planned and prepared extensively for this specific mission. "Troublesome. It's a simple task, we are no longer shinobi. Simply put, don't give any hints to our identities. Infiltration is of utmost importance. It's much easier to vanquish the king than to fight his army. If you are found out, kill the messenger."
Everyone paused slightly at the matter of fact tone their shadow user had used, something they were remarkably unprepared for. An almost audible gulp escaped Choji's thick throat. Shikamaru continued, "It is imperative this Kenshin believes we are ordinary villagers with no real relation to the shinobi world. I want no risk of Temari's life. I shouldn't have to explain this, but some of you are rather dense. Our only objective is to neutralize Kenshin and return Temari safely. No village, or villager, problem is worth your time. Don't interfere with the matters of this village. It is not our problem." A collective nod, as well as a salute from Rock Lee, reassured Shikamaru that he had selected the best crew.
"And now, for the new identities." Just as Shikamaru had begun again, the audible sound of a twig snapping nearby had the group jump to arms.
SO chapter one of my first story on . At this point I'd like to thank any and all who've read this chapter. Just as a reminder, if you did like the start and wish to read more, I will absolutely be trying to post a new chapter once every week. So follow or favorite, and you might not be disappointed! ;D