Chapter 2:
On Their Way
Shikamaru and Naruto made their way through the busy streets of the leaf village. It was hard getting past everyone. You couldn't walk two seconds without bumping into someone. Naruto wanted to just jump from building to building. That would be a lot faster than walking through the streets in the middle of the day. Too bad Shikamaru just replied, "It would be troublesome jumping on buildings and drawing attention to ourselves. It's easier to walk."
'Yeah it's easier...but it's slower too!' Naruto thought.
They spend a good five minutes getting to the Hokage mansion. After minutes of walking, they finally reached the bottom of the stairs. As Shikamaru began slowly walking up the stairs, Naruto stared at him angrily.
"Could you move any slower!?" He yelled.
"I'm moving to conserve energy. Maybe if you weren't yelling, you'd conserve some too." he responded cooly.
After staring for a while, Naruto could do nothing but smile. "After almost three years, you're exactly the same."
"I will take that as a compliment." Shikamaru said as he continued his walk up the stairs. "Actually, I think you're exactly the..."
Shikamaru's sentence was interrupted by a strong pain on his forehead. His vision began to turn a little blurry. It came without warning. He quickly grabbed his head but as fast as it had came, the pain was gone. 'What was that?' he thought. He wondered until he heard a voice behind him.
"Ah Shikamaru, your slow walking is giving me a headache." Naruto said.
Shikamaru looked back and saw Naruto also holding his forehead. "Well then let's speed up." He said as he ran up the stairs. Naruto quickly followed behind him. 'Naruto got that headache too. That wasn't normal.'
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
"Where the hell are they? They should be here by now!"
Kiba and Hinata stood outside the Hokage's office. Waiting...waiting...waiting...
"We try to do them a favor by rushing here but they're taking their sweet time." Kiba said annoyed.
"Maybe Shikamaru couldn't find Naruto-kun." Hinata suggested.
"Yeah maybe." Kiba said. "Or maybe they just like making us wait."
Hinata laughed a little. 'Well that's Kiba for you.'
Finally, they both turned to the stairs as they saw Shikamaru reach the top.
"What took you so long?" Kiba asked, almost yelling it at him.
"I knew you'd be like this, Kiba," he said as he continued his slow walk towards them. However, Hinata didn't care about the tardiness right now. She only cared about the spiky blonde hair that would soon enter the building. Sure enough, Naruto walked inside and quickly turned toward his fellow shinobi.
"Oh Kiba...and Hinata. Are you guys going on a mission?"
Hinata tried her best to form the words. "Umm yeah we..."
"Actually," Kiba interrupted, "we're going on this mission and we were waiting for you guys!"
"Oh." Naruto said as he ran towards them. Instead of continuing his usual argument with Kiba, he turned and looked at the shy girl standing next to him. "Hinata, how are you feeling? You must have been tired or something because the last time you just fell out."
"O-Oh." Hinata found it hard just talking to him. It was difficult thinking of words to say and blocking out all those embarrassing memories. "I'm fine now. H-How are you, Naruto-kun?"
"I'm great!" he responded joyfully. "I can't wait for the mission."
"Then why don't we go inside." Shikamaru said as he knocked on the Hokage's door.
"Enter." came a voice from inside.
Shikamaru opened the door and entered. Next, Kiba walked inside. Akamaru stayed put in the hallway. Small room, big dog. He just sat and waited for Kiba's return. Ever since Naruto walked up those stairs, Hinata couldn't take her eyes off him. Though she couldn't help it, she was staring at him the whole time. Naruto turned to Hinata, gave her his goofy wide grin, and finally entered the room. A bright blush quickly spread across her face.
'I hope he didn't notice that.' she thought as she entered the room.
As she stepped through the door, Hinata noticed everyone standing in a straight line so she quickly followed suit. They all stood in front of the fifth Hokage's desk. Tsunade looked from left to right, glancing over each of their young faces.
"I see it took a while for you all to show up." she said. There were a few glances over to Shikamaru...but he couldn't care less. "I've called you four here to take care of an important mission."
"All right!" Naruto blurted out. "Finally, an important mission. Don't hold back, grandma Tsunade."
Tsunade grinned at Naruto. "Actually, I think you will get the most out of this mission, Naruto."
"Yeah bring it on!" Naruto yelled as excited as ever.
Even while standing in front of the Hokage and receiving an important mission, Naruto was still swirling around in Hinata's mind. She giggled at Naruto's outbursts. 'He hasn't changed. He's still the same as he was over two years ago.'
"Ok, enough of that." Tsunade said, interrupting Naruto's outbursts and Hinata's thoughts. "Your mission is to head for the sand village. The Kazekage has requested I send powerful ninja right away."
'Gaara.' Naruto thought. He still remembered his previous mission to the sand village and everything the Akatsuki had done. 'I wonder what has him asking for help like this?'
"So what's the situation?" Kiba asked.
"That I do not know." All four shinobi gave the Hokage a confused look. "He did not give any details about the situation, though he has made it clear that he needs powerful shinobi. Considering our great relationship with the sand, I saw no need to question him." She turned and locked eyes with the most experienced chunin. "You are the leader of this team. Are you up to it?"
"Yes." Shikamaru responded.
Tsunade's mouth turned into a small smirk. "Yes, it's just like last time." she murmured under her breath.
"What?" he questioned.
"Oh nothing," she said with a smile, "go complete your mission."
Even though she actually was paying attention, Hinata had to ask, "But exactly what are we supposed to do?"
"Just go to the sand village and report to the kazekage. He should give you more details. Does everyone understand?"
"Yes." Each ninja replied.
"All right. Oh yeah and there's one other thing." She waited until she had all of their full attention. "From the entrance to the village a few miles west is a road. Are any of you familiar with it?"
"Yeah," Kiba blurted out. "Me and Akamaru train around there all the time."
"Good, well I received word that there are some strange visitors hanging around there. I want you all to check it out."
"But umm," Hinata found it weird having to question the Hokage, "it may take longer to get to the sand village if we take that detour."
"Yeah," Naruto added. "Wouldn't it be easier if you sent some other..."
"No no you guys can handle it," the Hokage reassured. "Just check it out and continue with your mission. Understood?" There were a few okays and head nods. "All right then, you are all dismissed."
The four ninja all turned and walked out the room in a straight line. As the last one to leave, Naruto stopped as he noticed something. "Hey grandma Tsunade." he called back into the room.
The whole grandma thing was starting to get on her nerves and it showed on her face. "What is it?"
"Where's Shizune? Why isn't she here?" he asked.
"Oh umm I think she's at the hospital. I wouldn't disturb her." she said.
"Oh ok." Naruto replied as he exited the room.
He ran to catch up with the others and together they left the mansion. They made it through the hall and started down the stairs in silence. The four made it down the stairs and continued toward the village exit.
Now that the important briefing was over, Hinata had nothing stopping her from continuing her previous actions. 'I haven't had a mission with Naruto-kun in so long. I hope I don't mess anything up. If anything, I need to use this opportunity to show him what I can do. I won't mess this up.'
They walked for a while until they finally reached the village exit. After walking in silence for so long, someone had to say something.
"Hey guys." A voice called from behind them. They turned and saw the pink haired kunoichi running up to them.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto called out. Sakura smiled an approached her friends.
"Hey, are you guys going on a mission?" she asked.
"Yeah. We're going to check on some things in the sand village." Shikamaru explained.
"You can come along if you want, Sakura-chan!" Naruto gladly said.
She gave him an evil look. "I think I'll pass," she said sternly. "Well good luck guys I'll see ya later." And with that, she began her walk towards the center of the village.
"If you're done making googly eyes can we go now?" Kiba said to Naruto.
He turned and stared at the dog lover. "Sure we can go. I just hope you can keep up."
"What did you say?" Kiba asked angrily.
"You heard me!"
"All right all right enough fighting." Shikamaru butted in. "It's a wonder how Sakura and Hinata can put up with you two as teammates."
Hinata giggled. "It's not so bad I guess."
With the arguing done, they all made it through the huge gates guarding the village. Naruto continued down the roads before he was stopped by Shikamaru. "Don't you remember what the hokage said? We have to check out that road before we go."
"Oh right." he replied, a little embarrassed. Hinata couldn't help but giggle at the action.
"So where is this road?" she asked. "Don't you know, Kiba?"
"Yeah." he said proudly. "All right follow me."
Kiba and Akamaru took charge and started leading the pack. Naruto reluctantly followed. The gang broke away from the leaf village exit and headed into the woods. With Kiba and Akamaru in front, there's no way they would get lost. Jumping from tree to tree, they followed in a straight line. Finally, they reached a dirt path. Kiba signaled everyone to stop.
"This is it." he said. "Now what?"
Shikamaru took a look down the road. There was nothing he could see. "We follow the road and look for anything suspicious. If we don't find anything then we continue towards the sand village." Everyone nodded and the group started down the road.
Five minutes of walking past and nothing suspicious was found. Hinata couldn't keep her mind on the mission since it was just so boring. Out the corner of her eye she could see Naruto next to her. She could see the disappointed look on his face. 'He's probably hoping something exciting happens.' She smiled. 'He really is the same Naruto-kun.'
Naruto's face lit up when he saw something way up the road. "I see something! Let's go check it out." He ran past the others and headed toward it.
"Hey wait up." Kiba wasn't far behind him. He and Akamaru ran to catch up with the excited boy.
Naruto stopped in front of a small booth. He looked down at the sign written on it. "Konoha Fortuneteller?" he read. He looked up and saw an old man sitting behind the booth. "You're a fortuneteller?"
"Yes dear boy," the old man said. "Would you like your fortune told?"
Kiba arrived and stood next to Naruto. He turned to the booth and looked at it top to bottom. Hinata and Shikamaru had to run to catch up with the others.
"Why do you two have to act so troublesome?" Shikamaru asked.
"Welcome to my fortunetelling booth." The old man smiled and looked at each of the ninja before him. "Would any of you like your fortune told?"
"Well," Naruto started, considering the offer.
"Naruto! It's a bunch of crap. No one can actually see the future." Kiba said.
"Now that is where you are wrong my dear boy," the old man said. "I can see the future and with the right amount of money, I can show you all what you want to know."
"All right enough of this." Shikamaru said annoyed. He walked over to the man and got right down to business. "You aren't from Konoha are you? Why are you here? There is clearly no one else on this road and I doubt there will be."
The man closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I've been given a duty. I must use this gift that the gods have given me. I will wait patiently for anyone to show up and seek my advice." He reopened his eyes and stared at Shikamaru. "Now, can I help you?"
"Umm maybe we should give it a try." Hinata suggested.
"No forget it!" Kiba yelled. "This only works if you normally believe in this kind of stuff."
"Yeah he's right." Naruto agreed.
"C'mon Shikamaru, this is just a waste of time." Kiba said.
Shikamaru took a deep breath and looked at the old man. "Sorry sir but we have a mission to take care of. We must be on our way."
"Ok," the man said happily. "Have a nice day."
Shikamaru turned back to his team and started walking down the road. "Let's go, we've lost too much time already."
Kiba and Hinata quickly followed Shikamaru and continued down the road. Naruto took one last look at the man. The man smiled and reached down behind the booth.
"Please, take my brochure." He pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it out. Naruto walked over and grabbed the paper. He gave the man one last look before running after the others.
He ran up the road and caught up with them. He was almost out of breath. Kiba turned and sighed. "What took you so long?"
Naruto held up the brochure. "I got this brochure from that old man."
"I told you fortunetelling is a bunch of crap." Kiba responded. "Let me see that!" He reached over and grabbed the brochure from Naruto. It was a thick piece of paper folded in half and taped together. "The outside is blank."
"Open it up." Hinata suggested.
Kiba ripped the tape and opened it up. The paper was blank but inside it was another smaller folded piece of paper. There was some writing on it. He took it out and looked on the outside of it. He could barely make out the words: To Nara Shikamaru.
"What the hell?" Kiba wondered.
Hinata could see the confusion on his face. "What is it, Kiba?"
"Shikamaru, come take a look at this."
Shikamaru stopped walking and grabbed the paper from Kiba. He could see his name on the folded paper. He looked up over at Naruto. "Are you sure that old man gave this to you?" Naruto nodded. Shikamaru opened up the paper and glanced over the inside. Everyone crowded around him with curious eyes.
"What is it?" Hinata asked.
Kiba could see lots of words on the paper. "A note?"
"Maybe." Shikamaru replied. Puzzled looks spread across each of their faces. Shikamaru cleared his throat and began to read:
Hello, it's time for us to begin
too bad this isn't a game you can win
lets see how long you guys can play my game
either way your fate is all the same
if you don't believe me, let me give you all something to fear
now everything that can cut, will disappear!
1:00
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kiba asked.
"Did that old man give this to us by mistake?" Naruto asked.
Shikamaru reread the note over and over in his head. "Everything that can cut will disappear," he repeated. 'What's that number at the end? A time? Wait...' Shikamaru continued his thinking while the others stood around confused.
"What kind of note is this? Is it a riddle or something?" Kiba wondered. "I bet that old man is up to all this."
"But how did he know who Shikamaru was?" Hinata asked.
"Ahh this is confusing!" Naruto yelled. "Shikamaru, you think of anything yet?"
The clever chunin was still staring at the note. He tried to consider everything and come up with the best solution. 'That number, is it a time? It's past one o'clock already. Wait...time...a time limit! That would mean...one minute. One minute...until...' Shikamaru quickly rose his head and turned toward the young kunoichi. "Hinata! Use your byakugan and search for anything strange. Hurry!"
His voice startled her. "Umm o-ok." She rose her hands and performed her seal. "Byakugan!" Veins emerged from the sides of her eyes and she began searching. With the byakugan's nearly 360 degree of vision, it would be hard for anything to escape her sight. "I...I don't see anything. Just trees and...wait...look out! Above!"
Everyone quickly turned their attention upward...but it was too late. A small black ball fell from a tree right above their heads. Instantly, it exploded sending dark smoke in all directions. The darkness consumed the four shinobi and everything else around them. Nothing could be seen.