"Lady Hokage, I have to insist we hold off on the mission. I can't properly lead my team under these conditions. Chouji and I haven't even slept. Ino, Naruto, and Kankurou are still groggy from lack of sleep. I have yet to be informed about our mission. I have no idea what the best strategy would be for moving through the night so suddenly. Most unusual is the sudden addition of Kakashi Hatake to my team. Please, can't the mission wait at least until morning?"
"I'm sorry, Shikamaru. If the mission could wait, I wouldn't have summoned your team so abruptly. However, we have obtained new information that requires more urgency for this mission than we had originally believed. It seems this mission is time sensitive. Due to the fact that you are all so ill prepared I made the decision to have Kakashi join your team. I will personally brief you on the circumstances of this mission while we make our way to the Eastern Gate. Now let's move."
At the East Gate: Chouji, Ino, Naruto, and Kankurou are all waiting for the arrival of Shikamaru, Kakashi, and the Hokage herself.
This can't be a good thing. If the Hokage would make us leave so quickly and make the decision to add Kakashi to our team things must have become very serious with the mission. I'm sure it's not just a regular B-rank mission anymore.
"So I need your team to end this immediately."
"Lady, please this is too much to ask of my team. Maybe a team of Jonins, but not every member here is a Jonin. I beg you, please remove, Chouji and Ino from this mission."
"I know you want to protect your teammates especially after what happened to Chouji on the last mission you led, however, I have determined you will need their particular abilities for this mission and you WILL take them."
"…"
"Now I believe you have a team to inform. Get moving, Shikamaru, time is ticking away."
With that Tsunade turns and walks away. Shikamaru is left with very confused and worried looks from his four teammates. Kakashi took a seat and pulled out some new series of books that were equally as perverted as Jiraiya's own works.
"First, let me start by saying I begged the Hokage to let us hold off until morning to head out, but as I'm about to inform you we don't have time to wait. So I think it's important-"
"Why did you do that Shikamaru?"
"Uh, do what Chouji?"
"Why did you try to get Ino and I pulled from this mission?"
"I did it because this mission is too dangerous."
"You're lying, isn't he Chouji?"
"Ino's right. Why don't you tell us?"
"I did it to protect you; I don't want the two of you hurt. Naruto is tough, too tough to be taken down, Kankurou is a Jonin in his village, and Kakashi is one in our village. The two of you are not skilled enough for me to be willing to risk your lives on this mission."
"…"
"Now that we have all the stupid questions out of the way can we get back to the mission?"
"…"
"Good. Tsunade has informed me that we are to hunt down a team of highly skilled ninjas who obtained a lost relic from years past. She couldn't tell me exactly what the object is capable of, but she did inform me that within 36 hours its abilities will peak unless properly tended to. Our job is basically-fight the bad guys, get the object, and return the object to the village-before 36 hours are up. Does anyone have questions?"
"Why the sudden bump up? And why didn't we head out sooner? I mean I was sleeping!"
Funny since Naruto was originally saying he wouldn't even sleep he was so excited.
"Apparently our mission was originally to escort it to the village from the dig site, however the ninjas have ruined that plan and we must now put a rush on retrieving the object and getting it back here."
"Shikamaru, I think it's time you get all your troops in formation and we head out. The longer we're here the further away it's getting and the longer it'll take to get it back here."
"Kakashi has a point. Time is an important factor. That is why; while we were speaking I decided we will move in two teams of three."
"Shikamaru, I realize for this mission you are leading, however I have to advise you not split our forces like that-"
"I'm sorry Kakashi, but this is the best plan. Team one will be as follows: Leading-Kakashi with your sharingan and heightened Jonin senses, Center-myself in order to better instruct our movements, and Caboose-Kankurou with your multiple puppets your best suited in case we come across too many ninjas for the three of us to handle."
"HEY, WHAT!?!?!? I should be on team one! I can make enough clones to tie up his stupid puppets for weeks! Believe It!"
"Exactly Naruto, you don't understand the concepts of stealth and following orders. You are too much of a hassle to watch out for."
"But-"
"No buts Naruto. Team two will be a relay style set up back to the village. The three of you will be spread out at intervals averaging 520 kilometers. Furthest from the village is Naruto, you'll sprint the 750 kilometers through the woods back to the clearing where, Ino is waiting to make the 600 kilometer dash back to the village gates at which, Chouji is waiting to make the final 200 kilometers to the Hokage's Tower. Where-"
"What? Why am I last, Shikamaru? And Naruto has to run 750 while I only make 200? That's not very fair. If you're aiming to get the relic back as quickly as possible, wouldn't it be better to spread us out evenly so no one person slows down from fatigue?"
"Normally you'd be right Chouji, but Naruto can run that easily with hardly any drain. Ino I would prefer to have hit the field as the flora there are likely to be unique and may present a problem for anyone other than her. You, Chouji are best placed here near the village. You won't have to leave the gates really. In 24 hours you could just come back here and start waiting then."
"Shikamaru! You aren't worried about fatigue or even that I'm slower than Ino and Naruto! I could understand if that was the reason you're doing all of this, but you're just leaving me here in the village because you're worried that something like the last time will happen."
"Chouji this has nothing to do with protecting you. It's like you said, you're the slowest out of the three of you. I didn't want to offend you and say that's why you had so little to do, but-"
"Shikamaru, stop protecting Chouji. Everyone here can see that is the only thing on your mind. We all are ninja and as such risk our lives every time we go on a mission. You can't expect Chouji to sit by and have you "protect him" just because you can't stand the idea of him being hurt."
"…"
Well Shikamaru? What are you going to do? No matter what you say, I won't stay behind and just wait for the rest of you to do all the work.
"Alright, then we will all move together. We will move using Formation 6-in-1 Cell, so named because we are 6 who will move as 1 creature perfectly designed to carry out our task and get home unharmed. Leading is Kakashi, then Kankurou, Ino, me, Chouji, and Naruto. Any other problems?"
"Why are we set up like this?"
"I've already explained Kakashi and Kankurou's importance. You, Ino are next for the reason I stated earlier, you're knowledge of flora we are sure to come across. I follow you so that I can easily receive information and hand out instructions. Chouji is behind me because I need his power house strength ready to jump in and fight if needed. Naruto is last, so that any attempts to break our formation from behind won't get any further than Naruto. I'm counting on you to keep everyone safe Naruto. Now then Let's Move Out!"
a/n: there ya go. updated finally. thanks to hyperemoninja who reminded me that this story was even here. hope ya like it. i promise actual actioney stuff happens next time and i decided the smut-smut will wait a little longer. Bon Soir! ^_^ REMEMBER TO REVIEW AND FAV (or I won't know you love me.)