I finally have updated this story! I apologize for the long wait. I hope you enjoy this short chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does

Story originally by enchanted-nova.

Tsunade was not happy by any means, not at Naruto or the ANBU, but at the fact the possible suspect of the murders had escaped capture. The only clue they have was a pendant that had been left behind, possibly by mistake, his name, and the recollection of a witness; their only witness to be precise.

There was a knock at her door, she called out, "Enter…"

The door opened to reveal Shikamaru; he entered the office and closed the door behind him.

"Tsunade-sama, you kind of caught me at a bad time; I was with Ino," Shikamaru muttered irritably.

Tsunade raised a brow, and then asked, "On a date?"

Shikamaru flinched as his cheeks turned a bright pink hue, and then he replied, "Yes…"

Tsunade chuckled and then Shikamaru continued, "What did you want with me? The ANBU who came for me said that you would explain."

Then Tsunade frowned and simply said, "Naruto encountered the possible suspect of the recent murders."

Shikamaru's eyes widened, "What?! In the village?!"

Tsunade answered, "Yes, Naruto was the only one able to pinpoint where he was and pursue him. He would've have gotten him too but he escaped."

Shikamaru glared as he thought, "Unbelievable! He got past our security and the guards at their posts. And he was able to control his chakra so that regular sensors couldn't find him."

He asked, "Are there shinobi out looking for any trace of him?"

"We have sent out Kiba and Shino with a Hyuga member but so far they haven't reported anything," Tsunade answered.

She paused before adding, "All we have to go on is that his name is Tetsuya Inoue and this…" She pushed a picture of Tetsuya's pendant to him and he picked it up to look over it.

Shikamaru grimaced and then he asked again, "Is there anything else?"

Tsunade answered, "Yes, we have an actual witness; one that hasn't been killed."

"Where is this witness?" Shikamaru pressed.

"She is with Shizune at the hospital, taking care of any injuries she may have gotten," Tsunade answered.

Shikamaru sighed and then massaged the bridge of his nose and then spoke again, "I suppose that you will ask the witness questions soon?"

"That's what we intend to do, unless there may be some setback. We'll start by asking regular questions but if there information being blocked…" Tsunade answered.

Shikamaru grimaced and then he asked, "I suppose you would need assistance from Ino?"

"No, not at this precise moment; she still needs to return to active duty and she needs to continue her technique practices since she has been inconsistent," Tsunade answered.

"Okay, but is it alright if I inform her of this development?" Shikamaru inquired.

"Yes, I can allow that. I will send a summons for you both when it is time," Tsunade answered.

Shikamaru bowed towards her and then turned around to walk out the door. But as he had the door on the handle, Tsunade, interjected, "Tell Ino, I hope that she will be ready for this soon."

Shikamaru nodded his head and then left through the door. Ino was just outside the Hokage building waiting for Shikamaru to come out.

Ino walked up to him and asked, "Shikamaru, what has happened? It must have been important for an ANBU member to call you here."

Shikamaru let out a sigh and answered, "Naruto had encountered the suspect for the recent murders…"

Ino let out a small gasp and then replied, "Really? You're certain?"

Shikamaru nodded his head and continued, "We have a witness; a woman who wasn't killed and she may be our only lead. And all we have to go on is his name and a pendant that he had dropped."

Ino frowned and then asked, "Does she need my help? Maybe I can extract the information."

Shikamaru shook his head, "No, she said that she will summon us when it is time."

Ino nodded her head and then she suddenly asked, "You still have a few days off right?"

He answered, "Yeah, I have two more days. Why?"

"Because tomorrow at dawn, you will train me to get back into the game; I'm seriously slacking and no objections!" Ino shouted unnecessarily.

Shikamaru chuckled and was suddenly hit with nostalgia; her bossy nature was always something he couldn't avoid even if he wanted to.

"Okay, may as well; you'll drag me out of bed anyway and I wouldn't be surprised if you dragged Chouji into it too," Shikamaru replied in amusement.

Ino replied, "Of course Chouji as well! I need both of you guys just as much as you need me! Team Ino-Shika-Cho is back in the game!"

Shikamaru couldn't help but smile at her; she is becoming her old self again, bossy and self-assured. She has had a rough patch but she was able to overcome it. He took her hand into his, effectively stopping her chatter.

He leaned down his head down, kissed her forehead and then whispered, "Welcome back, Ino."

Ino smiled up at him and then held onto his arm with the picnic basket on her other arm as they were walking back to her house.

In a different training ground…

Naruto was sitting cross-legged and in full meditation to slip into sage mode. He looked around for at least a trace of Tetsuya's chakra but no such luck. Naruto groaned in frustration and he laid himself onto his back. He looked up at the star-filled sky, breathing in deeply as he recalled what happened merely two hours ago.

Then suddenly, he heard a voice say, "You shouldn't beat yourself up about it."

Naruto looked over to his right, his teacher; Kakashi was kneeling down towards him and in his usual shinobi attire. He had not changed much since after the war; the only significant difference was that he didn't have the Sharingan anymore since Obito was discovered alive and in the duration of it, it was returned to him. As a result of Naruto and Sasuke's efforts, Naruto was able to regenerate Kakashi's original eye and now both his eyes are shown.

Naruto sighed, "It's just I know I should've been able to take him. I was supposed to catch this guy and now he is gone. I somehow manage to help stop the war and bring Sasuke but I can't even catch one person. I feel like I totally screwed up."

Kakashi then replied, "Naruto, you can't expect every mission to go according to plan. For example, no one else was able to realize that someone had gotten into the village. But you were able to and you were able to track him down before that woman could be killed." Naruto sat up and looked over at Kakashi, listening to his teacher.

Kakashi continued, "Remember, you did what you could and you were able to save a life before he could kill her."

"I'm sure you will be able to help by providing the information that you gained in your scuffle with him. So don't think that you failed, think of it that you have prepared yourself for the next time you may run into him" Kakashi added while he gave him one of his eye smiles.

Naruto smiled at him before looking up at the sky once again. He murmured to Kakashi, "Thanks, Kakashi-sensei…"

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