Unsuspected Allies

Prologue: Teal Skies

Shikamaru's mission

Disclaimer: Naruto is an anime/manga by Masashi Kishimoto. I claim no rights to the characters or original story line.

Groggily, Shikamaru opened his eyes. He had been taking a nap high up in one of the trees surrounding the village of Konoha. This was the only peace he had over the past few weeks. The Fifth was flooded with mission requests lately. Shikamaru had just returned from one that morning.

Looking up, Shikamaru noted that the sky had finally cleared. It had been raining sporadically over the past couple of days. Now, the sky glimmered a blue/green in color. No, the color was more teal, thought Shikamaru. Funny how the color reminded him of something, but he couldn't think of what that was.

Closing his eyes, he rubbed at his temples with a sigh of exasperation. His brain was fried. Thinking hurt too much at the moment. Shikamaru rested his head back against the trunk of the tree. Sleep…..all that he wanted to do was sleep…..

"There you are, Shikamaru!" Called a familiar voice from below. "We've been looking for you everywhere!"

Shimata…..he thought, with a groan of annoyance. Maybe if I don't answer she'll think I'm asleep and go away, he concluded hopefully to himself.

"Please wake up, Shikamaru-kun," came a soft, quiet voice from somewhere close by.

"Hummm?" Shikamaru raised an eyelid curiously to find Hinata hanging upside down from a branch above him.

"Come on, Shikamaru, get a move on. We have been summoned. Tsunade-sama will be furious that it has taken us so long to find you!" Called up the voice from below again. "If not for Hinata's Byakugan we might not have found you at all!"

"That was the point," mumbled Shikamaru under his breath. What did the Fifth want now? Ah Gods, this was a real pain.

"Please come with us," Hinata pleaded in her soft, quiet voice. "If we don't hurry, Tsunade-sama will yell again."

Couldn't anyone ever get a break? For crying out loud, he hadn't even been back for 4 hours and already he was being given another mission? Shikamaru let out a heavy sigh and dropped down from the tree. Well, this was certainly a strange combination, he thought, as he landed next to Tenten, followed quickly by Hinata landing softly beside him.

The trio stood in anticipation before the Hokage. Tenten stood, giving the Fifth her utmost attention. Hinata's eyes were downcast and her hands folded in front of her. She looked like a rabbit ready to flee. Shikamaru, on the other hand, stood lazily with a vacant expression between the to female shinobi. He wobbled slightly and looked as though he might be sleeping standing up with his eyes wide open.

Tsunade looked on at the group for a few minutes, her hands folded beneath her chin, momentarily lost in thought. She noted how completely exhausted Shikamaru looked, more so then usual for him, that is. She hated to do this, but her hands were tied. She would have sent Neji instead, if it werent for him being on another mission. Also because Neji was away, she had no other choice but to send Hinata on this mission as well. The Byakugan would be beneficial for their success. Tenten also was currently the only other shinobi in the village not already on a mission. The three of them together should be an adequate skill combination. Shikamaru's leadership & strategy, Hinata's Byakugan, and Tenten's weapon expertise.

The Hokage let out a deep sigh before beginning to explain the situation. "I truly am sorry that I must do this, but I am working with limited resources," she explained, directly to Shikamaru.

Shikamaru wobbled and the light of the noonday sun reflected from his glazed over eyes.

"Shikamaru!" Snapped the Fifth with the attempt to snap him out of his trance. It was Tenten's push on his shoulder knocking him off balance and into Hinata that forced him to focus.

"This is such a bother," he mumbled.

"After I brief you on the situation, you may go home to rest and then you will leave tonight," Tsunade sighed. It couldn't be helped. She had intended them to leave right away as was requested, but she couldn't send him out like this.

Shikamaru wanted to protest more. Why couldn't she wait for one of the others to return? The urgency in her voice as well as the stacks of papers covering her desk convinced him against it. There was also the pleading looks from Shizune, her assistant, and Ton-Ton, her pet pig, which forced him to keep silent.

"It has been requested that we send a group of shinobi to guard an artifact in threat of being stolen. There has been reason to believe that the theft is to take place tomorrow night." The Hokage paused for a moment to ensure they all followed the explanation. "So, as you can see, we don't have much time," she paused again, making eye contact with Shikamaru. "I wanted to send Neji, Tenten, and Lee, but both Neji and Lee are away and I can't wait for their return."

"I understand," Shikamaru grumbled. This was really troublesome."

"I will explain further details to Hinata and Tenten. Go now and rest up, Shikamaru.."

Without hesitation, Shikamaru left the Hokage's office, shielding his eyes from the brightness of the sun. During his track home, his gaze wandered to the sky. It was still a teal color. Teal….for some reason it haunted him.

Upon arriving home, he went straight to his room and collapsed onto the bed. With his eyes closed, he still saw the teal colored sky in the back of his mind. No…it wasn't the sky… it was a pair of eyes. So familiar, he thought.

Rolling onto his back, he opened his eyes to stare up at the ceiling. His mind stuck on a memory that wouldn't let him rest. The minutes passed like hours as his mind restlessly sorted through memories of teal eyes.

Finally, as his eyelids heavily pulled shut over his view, a face formed against the darkness.

"Temari………"