Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters from it
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters from it. I am not making profit from this, just the satisfaction of unleashing my imagination on an unsuspecting public.
I should warn now that this fiction will be Shikamaru/Nara Family/Team 10 centric. If you dislike that, or are against it in any way, I suggest turning around right here and reading another story. To everyone else, read at your own risk and enjoy.
Lost and Found
"What a drag." said Shikamaru Nara as he walked through the halls of Hokage Mansion "My first Saturday off in a month, and I get called in for a secret mission? Sometimes I envy normal people."
The lazy chuunin pulled his hands from the pockets of his dark brown pants as he approached the office of the Hokage. Letting out a deep sigh, he pushed open the door. Already sitting in the small office were Shikamaru's 3 other teammates: Asuma Sarutobi, a 28-year-old jounin with spiked black hair and a short black beard; Ino Yamanaka, a thin 13-year-old genin with long blond hair white wraps covering a good bit of her body; and Choji Akimichi, a wide 13-year-old genin with light brown hair.
Sitting behind the large desk was the Godaime Hokage, Tsunade. This blond, middle-aged medic genius was once part of a group known as the "Legendary Sanin", along with the "Toad Sage" Jiraiya and the "Snake Ninja" Orochimaru.
Clearing her throat, the Hokage motioned for Shikamaru to enter and close the door, to which the young Nara obliged.
"Alright, now that the last of your team is assembled," spoke up Tsunade, fixing Shikamaru with a stare, "I will explain to you your mission. About one day ago, we received a message from Hidden Rain village that a certain scroll was stolen from the Head's headquarters by an unusual group of bandits. In the fray that resulted when rain ninja attempted to protect the scroll, one of the bandits used what they are referring to as a "Loopy bomb", leaving 3 nin unaware as to what happened or even who they are. However, there is some good news. Before the group disappeared from the village, one nin was able to get a quick look at their plans. Apparently, the bandits are planning to cut across Fire Country to get to the Hidden Mist village. This is where you come in." At this point, the Hokage gestured to the group. "You are to intercept the bandits, capture them, and retrieve the Rain scroll. If all is not possible, the most important issue is obtaining the secret document. After that is done, proceed to the Hidden Rain village and deliver the scroll. Now, the information I am about to give you is crucial to put in the back of your minds. They will of course discourage me from saying this but I will do so anyway. If you are unable to get the scroll from them, it is most important that it not get to Mist. If the situation is dire, they're about to escape you for example, I command you to destroy the scroll."
Hearing this, all assembled grew shocked looks on their faces. Seeing their expressions, Tsunade quickly backpedaled.
"That is, of course only if the situation extremely demands it. Otherwise, I will go with the elders and say you should avoid harming the piece of information. Is everything understood?" She finished, giving each member of the group a serious look.
Everyone nodded to the affirmative, to which the blond medic stood from her position behind the desk.
"Good, then I expect you to leave the gates within the hour. Good luck." Tsunade dismissed them from her office.
30 minutes later, Team Asuma was grouped at the large gates of Konohagakure.
"Ready?" said Asuma, looking to the rest of his team.
"Ready or not, we don't really have a choice in the matter." spoke up Choji, tightening the strap on his pack.
To that, the bearded jounin grinned.
"Too true. Alright then, if there is no objections, let's go!" With that, the group shot off into the forest surrounding the village.
15 Hours Later
Team Asuma was making their way through the treetops, hopping from branch to branch. Strapped to the jounin's back was a large scroll with the kanji of Ame(rain) imprinted on the side. More strange was the position of Ino. The blond genin was currently riding on Choji's back, giggling hysterically at nothing in particular. Traveling beside the chubby ninja, Shikamaru gave the thin nin on Choji's back a glance and shook his head.
"Poor girl just had to get in the way of that "Loopy bomb"." He said, to which the blond suddenly hiccupped and started gurgling on her saliva. The gurgling slowly led to releasing the spit in large quantities onto Choji's arm. This made the large genin shudder.
"Alright, I'm calling it! Next village we get to, I'm setting her down and washing my arm. That's disgusting!"
Suddenly, the trees seemed to thin out and the group was treated to the sight of a small group of huts in the middle of a clearing.
"Well, that's convenient." commented the lazy chuunin.
Before the group entered the village, both Asuma and Choji resituated their packages, the jounin putting the scroll beneath his arm and the genin carrying the drooling blond bridal-style. As they passed thought the streets, there didn't seem to be a soul out today.
When they got to the village center, Asuma finally noticed an aged, graying man sitting on the steps to a slightly larger hut, scribbling noted on a small pad. As the group approached him, he looked up at them.
Dressed in a large black robe over a white shirt, the man had on glasses and his long, gray hair was tied back in a low ponytail. Pushing his glasses higher on his nose, he peered at the group approaching him, finally noticing the slobbering Ino.
"Loopy bomb?" he asked, pointing his pencil toward the blond. The males just nodded. Sighing, the man closed his notebook and set it to his side. "Well, come in, I might have a cure for that."
Hearing that, the Leaf nin gave each other questioning looks.
"Or you could just let it take its course. She may be fine in about nine hours. It's your choice." the man called from within the house.
Letting out a sigh, the group filed into the hut. Walking in, they saw the man in front of a large rack, checking small jars in the light. Finding what he wanted, he put two jars on a small table beside a large bedroll.
"Please lay her down there." he requested, pointing to the bundle of blankets as he pulled a blue flower from one of the jars and began to chop it up.
As Choji went to set Ino down, she threw her arms around his middle.
"My teddy bear!" she said in a very child-like voice, to which the round genin raised an eyebrow.
"Release the polar bear, child." The man spoke in a normal tone as he poured some pink powder from the other jar into a bowl with the chopped flower.
Letting go of Choji, the thin ninja tilted her head to look at the man and pointed to the bowl he was mixing in.
"What in bowl?"
"Cheese and radishes." the man said in a tone that suggested it was an everyday phrase, to which Ino let out a small giggle and replied in a sweet voice "May I have some, Mr. Chicken?"
"Only if it flies past Jupiter." he said back, kneeling down to place the bowl in front of her face.
As Ino opened her mouth wide, the man slowly tipped the contents in. After the bowl was emptied, the blond swished the mix around a bit before her eyes slowly fluttered closed.
"Never trust a deer with pop rocks." the blond muttered before falling backward onto the blankets.
Meanwhile the males of the team were still gawking at the crazy exchange they just witnessed. While they were catching up, the man stood and walked over to a sink to wash out the bowl. Finally gaining a coherent thought, Shikamaru spoke up.
"So many questions, but I think the first has to be "Who are you?"
At that, the man grinned and turned to face Team Asuma. "Well, most people around here call me Fukurou. Now, you," he said, looking at Shikamaru "you look familiar. What clan are you from?"
"I might just have one of those faces. Why should I give out information like that?" Shikamaru replied.
"You don't trust me? The man who just gave your friend a slightly rare cure?"
"Hey, she fainted, so you might have poisoned her for all we know." Choji spoke up, raising a fist.
"Oh, that. Have no fear, large child. Your girlfriend will wake up in about 20 minutes. She'll have a headache, but she'll be coherent." Fukurou replied with a wave of his hand.
The chubby genin's eyes widened.
"She's not my girlfriend!" he yelled.
"Anyway," the aged man continued, ignoring Choji's outburst "the reason I wanted your name was not to start a fight, but to know if you are part of the Nara clan."
To that, Shikamaru let out a sigh. "Sorry about the mistrust there. We learn not to have confidence in people we just met."
"Think nothing of it, my boy. I understand the precautions of a ninja." Fukurou responded, cleaning his glasses with a handkerchief "It's been a long time since I've seen a Nara, probably a couple of generations. I am lucky enough, however, to still have my memory."
During this time, Asuma had gotten out a small folded piece of paper and was rubbing his chin.
"Umm, Fukurou was it?" the bearded jounin addressed the aged man "I might be wrong, but I can't find this place on my map."
To that, he breathed out and nodded slowly. "Yes, most people don't bother to add Kagegakure to their maps, which we are quite content with. It gives us some peace and quiet."
"Kagegakure?" asked Shikamaru.
"Hmm? Oh yeah. The great Kagegakure, better known as the Village Hidden in Shadow, home of the best kept secrets in the world."
"This place actually keeps secrets?" replied Asuma, putting away his map.
"Duh!" chuckled Fukurou "What, you think Konohagakure has no secrets? Look around once in a while, fellas. Every hidden village has at least one big secret. They are called Hidden Villages for a reason."
"Why would a village want to be kept a secret, though?" questioned Choji, who was now sitting beside Ino's makeshift bedding.
"Well," Fukurou groaned, taking a seat on the other side of the sleeping blond "it's actually quite simple when you think about it. All the other villages seem to want to fight each other every chance they get. As long as we stay out of listings, we stay out of the fray. I believe the last fight we were dragged into was the second great ninja war. Incidentally, it was around that time that this village started to help make those "Loopy bombs" that brought you to this place. So, I'm going to make some tea while we wait for your friend to recover. Anyone want a cup?"
"Sure."
"Why not."
"I'd love some!"
20 minutes later
While laughing and trading stories, Choji suddenly heard a groan beside him. Looking down, he saw the laid out blond slowly rubbing her head. As she cracked her eyes open, the wide genin swept a strand of hair out of her eyes and smiled at her.
"You up, Sleeping Beauty?"
"Oh, only if you have aspirin." she muttered.
Fukurou quickly passed Choji a small white bottle. Downing the offered tablets, Ino took a big swig from his cup of tea. Sticking her tongue out, the thin blond picked a small piece of blue flower off the muscle and grimaced.
"So, how do you feel?" inquired Shikamaru.
"Kind of like I just got flattened by Lady Tsunade's giant slug." She replied as she struggled into a sitting position.
"Yeah, that'll happen." the old man commented. Standing, he stretched then dusted himself off. "Well, now that you're awake, I must go. I have an important matter to attend to. Go easy for a while, ok?" He gave Ino a serious look.
"All right, and thank you for helping." she replied.
"It was nothing at all. Good luck in your travels." That being said, Fukurou gave them a small wave then disappeared through the door.
Letting out one last groan, the blond genin got to her feet and looked down at the other three.
"Well? Do we have a mission to complete, or are you girly-nin going to sit there all day drinking tea?"
Grinning, Asuma joined her in standing and put the Rain scroll on his back again. "You heard the woman, we have not a moment to lose."
With that, all four ninjas quickly left the hut and began to make their way through the forest toward the Hidden Rain village once again.
Down, in the depths below Kagegakure, a certain gray haired man was making his way through a large, dark tunnel. Turning a corner, Fukurou suddenly stopped. Standing in front of him was a towering figure and a smaller figure, both in black robes and hidden by the shadows. The larger of the two turned to face the aged man.
"Fukurou, you know you are not supposed to be down here." the figure said in a very deep voice.
"Not now, Yama." the old man spoke hurriedly "I must speak with him."
At that, the smaller figure turned to him, and spoke in a feminine voice.
"You know no one speaks to him during his meditation time."
"It is most important, very crucial business." replied Fukurou "Please, Onna."
Suddenly a voice arose from behind Yama and Onna. This one, unlike the other two figures, had a very neutral tone.
"And what is so important that you should be allowed to interrupt my much needed meditation?"
The aged man quickly dropped to one knee before the shadow covered figure. "Please, Lord Tsuki, if you allow me to explain, I shall not disappoint you." As the hidden man made no move to speak, Fukurou took that as his cue to inform. "Well, just 30 minutes ago, I made contact with a team of ninja from Konoha."
"And why should this interest me?" commented Tsuki.
"Because, my lord, one of the ninja was a child of the Nara clan."
After a moment, the shadow-covered man spoke again. "That is interesting. Onna, Fukurou, gather the others. Yama, find a messenger. We are going to Konohagakure."
AN: Alright, there you have it. It has begun.
By the way, at this juncture I would like to make a request of you, the reader. By this point alone, you can probably tell that there will probably be a showdown later on between the ninja of the Hidden Shadow village and the ninja of the Hidden Leaf village, so I would like to urge you to stretch your imagination. If you write a review, please take a few seconds and tell me about your own original shadow-based jutsu for the Kagegakure ninja to use. It can be Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, or even a Kekkai Genkai. I have quite a few in mind, but I would love to hear from your minds. Thanks for reading the first chapter, and please review.