Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Naruto. Oh how I wish I did, but –sighs- I don't.

Chapter 1

Suna-bound

A walk. That would help him clear his mind. Sighing mindlessly, Shikamaru traveled down the stairs of his home and made his way to the door. Standing beneath the threshold, he blinked and sighed again.

Now, where did I put my sandals? Tch, so troublesome.

Tapping his bare feet against the warm wooden floor, he tried to retrace his thoughts of where he last put his shoes.

I'm supposedly a genius, yet I can't remember where my shoes are...

Running up the stairs quickly he ransacked his room and was disappointed in what he saw. Everything but shoes. The probability of his shoes not being in his room was one to five, and this time apparently, the math had turned against him.

Making his way down the stairs, he crossed the kitchen and found his shoes sitting underneath the table.

Cheh, troublesome.

Quickly putting on his shoes and heading out the door, he found himself once again in the streets of Konoha. Crossing his arms against the back of his head, he enjoyed the sun's rays as it warmed his cool skin. He greeted various vendors as he continued wandering aimlessly throughout the city streets.

Something had been bothering Shikamaru lately. He couldn't pin point what it was exactly, but it was causing him to lose one of the things he enjoyed most. Sleep. Last night was the fourth night he had spent his time making out animals in the ceiling instead of sleeping.

All his life, he had probably been considered the most laid back citizen of Konoha, but lately things were different. The anxious rumble in his stomach...the continual restlessness. What was it? This was unlike him.

Lost in thought, Shikamaru didn't notice his former teacher, Asuma across the street calling out his name. Finally turning around, Shikamaru waved back carelessly. Crossing the dusty, well worn path, Asuma joined his former pupil.

"Ah, Shikamaru; haven't seen much of you lately." Asuma said as he greeted Shikamaru with a smile.

"Mmm."

"How have things been for you lately?"

"Eh...good."

"Good? Is that so?"

"Mmm."

"Any good missions lately?"

"Mmm, so so."

Somewhat concerned about his distant behavior, Asuma watched Shikamaru's face as they continued walking. Upon looking closely, Asuma discovered dark circles beginning to form under the younger man's eyes, and the somewhat listless expression that had settled on his face.

"Shikamaru?"

"Mmm?"

"Are you..." Suddenly changing his mind, Asuma decided not to pursue asking what was wrong with Shikamaru immediately. "Hey, how about some barbeque? I was planning on meeting Choji around now, and I'm sure he'd be happy if you came. It's been awhile since we've all been together. Kinda like the old days, remember?

"Heh, like the old days..." The thought of their past genin days brought back a smile to Shikamaru's previously dull face.

"Yeah...sure I'll come."

"Heh, great."

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Fifteen minutes later, Shikamaru found himself sitting with Choji and Asuma in the unusually empty barbeque restaurant. Watching Choji impatiently wait while watching the sizzling meat over the hot coals, Shikamaru couldn't help but laugh.

"Can we ask the waitress if we can get more heat on our coals? This meat is taking FOREVER." Choji exclaimed animatedly.

"No Choji. It will be done soon enough." Asuma said while slightly rolling his eyes at his former pupil.

"Oi, Asuma-san come on. We've been waiting on this meat for at least five minutes now. I'm so hungry I could eat my portion and Shikamaru's portion."

"Tch, calm down Choji. Cheh, you usually end up eating Shikamaru's portion anyway." Asuma said in a comical tone. "Isn't that right Shikamaru?"

"Tch, troublesome." Shikamaru replied slightly smiling as he watched Asuma and Choji further their mock argument over the rate at which the meat was cooking. As long as he could remember, ever since Team 10 had been together, Choji and Asuma always argued over pointless things at the barbeque. At times it would be Asuma warning Choji not to over-eat and Choji being the food lover that he was, never bothered to heed Asuma's warnings; leading up to Choji crying out in pain by the end of the meal because his stomach wouldn't be able to hold any more food.

Heh...I guess some things never change. Change...

In ways many things had stayed the same, but at the same time so much had changed. Six years had already passed since Sasuke had left the village. The younger Uchiha was seldom spoken about now. He had watched Naruto and Sakura move on with Sasuke's departure, but they had never forgotten him. His arrogant smirk, the cold look of seriousness reflected in his obsidian colored eyes...it was not forgotten.

Although he never personally knew Sasuke to the depth that Sakura, Naruto, and even Kakashi had known him, something about the Uchiha always stirred Shikamaru in a way he couldn't describe. Although he never admitted it to anyone, he had always admired his strength. The news of Sasuke's departure from the village surprised him, but he couldn't say he hadn't seen it coming. The boy had always wanted revenge, and the opportunity to seek it out just happened to come by his way.

But life continued. Sakura had changed in the years since Sasuke's absence. Long gone were the days of crying for the Uchiha, and she had since become rather sought after in the village. Her apprenticeship with the Godaime had radically improved her skills as a shinobi, and she had now achieved jounin level.

Even Naruto had grown. Although he was still his same boisterous self, beneath the shimmering cerulean eyes and golden hair was maturity. He had even traded in his trademark bright orange and blue jacket for an orange and black jacket. Ever since Sasuke's departure the bond between Naruto and Sakura had solidified, and the two were often seen walking in the village laughing, or sparring out in the clearing in the woods.

Guess that's just how it goes.

Shikamaru was brought out of his reverie by a loud groan from Choji.

"Augh, can't...eat...any...m-m-more...my-my st-s-stomach..."

"I told you not to eat everything so fast, that's what you get for trying to cram all that food into your mouth." Asuma said knowingly.

Shikamaru began to chuckle lightly at the comical sight of Choji in pain and Asuma making no effort what so ever to comfort him.

"Cheh, you two are so troublesome."

Choji broke a smile through his pain and tossed a glance to Asuma.

The older man returned Choji's glance and smiled. His plan had worked. It was good to see Shikamaru smile. The younger man's cheerless attitude over the past few days had been worrying him.

"Oi, Shikamaru. Remember that one time Ino tried to take me on in an eating contest?"

Laughing, Shikamaru vividly recalled a memory from the team's genin days. Ino had been depressed over Sasuke rejecting her again and was eating uncontrollably to ease away the pain of the Uchiha flat out telling her to get lost.

Closing his eyes in laughter, he covered his mouth with his hand, in order not to choke on the water he was drinking. All the men around the table were laughing and recalling Ino having to be taken to the Konoha hospital because of over eating that day.

Their laughter was slightly interrupted by the tinkling of the bells by the door which signaled to the workers that someone had entered.

The caress of a light breeze against Shikamaru's face brought him out of his amusement, and he looked to see where the draft had come from. Turning his head to the left, he was greeted by one of the messengers that worked with the Godaime.

"Ano...Shikamaru-san?"

Wiping the water from his mouth, Shikamaru nodded at her.

"Tsuande-sama would like to see you."

"Eh...me?"

"Mmm, hai. She said it was urgent."

"I see." Looking to Choji and Asuma Shikamaru gave an apologetic expression. "Sorry to break up things guys..."

Raising an eyebrow at the younger man, Asuma gave a curious expression. "What did you do this time Shikamaru?"

"Oi...nothing. I don't know what she wants. Don't go forming any weird stories...tch this is so troublesome." Shikamaru said as he stood and dusted off his pants.

Waving a goodbye to his companions, Shikamaru followed the messenger and headed towards the Godaime's headquarters.

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"Tsunade-sama?" Shikamaru asked through the large, wooden oak door.

"Hai? Come in please." A muffled voice replied through the entryway.

Pushing the door aside, Shikamaru entered the office and found himself amidst a flurry of paperwork and bottles of emptied sake.

"T-Tsunade-sama?"

Pushing aside a mountain of towering paper work, the blonde older woman faced Shikamaru.

"Ah yes, Shikamaru. I called for you earlier, thank you for coming."

"Of course..."

"Well the reason I called you is because you have been assigned on a mission."

"Ok..."

"For the next three months, you are being transferred to Suna."

Placing his hand over his ear, Shikamaru put two fingers in his ear and cleaned it out.

"Ah, gomenasai Tsunade-sama, for a moment I thought you said I was being transferred to Suna." The dark haired man said chuckling slightly.

"You heard correctly. You are being transferred to Suna for an extended period of time."

Shikamaru merely gaped at the woman as his mind began to process what she had just said.

This life is so troublesome...