Summary: Through absence, Uchiha Sasuke begins to grasp the true value of Haruno Sakura. Post-562, will deviate greatly from the manga. Drabble series.

Disclaimer: Naruto is (c) Masashi Kishimoto and Shueisha, Inc.

Note: A bounty station - black market exchange point where bounty hunters collect the bounty on names from the Bingo Book - resides in the Land of Fire. Its entrance is hidden behind a urinal in a bathroom. Sarutobi Asuma was killed in manga chapter 328, after having met Hidan and Kakuzu outside this bounty station.

IN ABSENTIA

The Unexpected Bounty

Crunch.

"You're sure this is a bounty station?"

Crunch. Crunch.

"Yeah. The inn's merely a cover. Based on the blueprints provided, there's a hidden entrance behind one of the restroom urinals."

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

"Ugh. You'd think criminals would learn to be more creative. This is the fifth... no, sixth... exchange point we've discovered behind a pisspot."

Since the Fourth Shinobi World War, Team Ten had made a name for itself by locating and eradicating black market bounty stations. This was an ongoing tribute to their sensei, Sarutobi Asuma, who had been felled by Akatsuki members Hidan and Kakuzu, the latter of which had been more interested in collecting bounties than jinchuuriki.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

A vein began to throb at Yamanaka Ino's left temple. "Chouji, you're a freaking shinobi. Can't you be quieter when you eat?!"

Akimichi Chouji briefly paused in the consumption of his favorite snack, potato chips. "Ino, you're a shinobi too. Can't you be quieter when you talk?"

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

"Arrrrgh!"

"How troublesome." Nara Shikamaru cast a reproving look at the other two-thirds of his squadron. "Both of you quiet down, someone's coming."

Inner squabbling came to a standstill and the Ino-Shika-Chō Trio shifted its complete attention to a nearby trail. The trail led to the bounty station they were scouting. Konohagakure heritage was apparent as the three blended into the forested area they were presently situated, its vegetation camouflaging them from anyone that should approach.

Two men soon walked into their line of vision, but that was not what captured the unit's notice. Instead, their focus was on the bloody and seemingly lifeless form of Uchiha Sasuke that was being carelessly dragged in the men's wake. Shikamaru swiftly planted his hand over Ino's mouth to hush her startled gasp.

Their covert operation had just turned into a rescue mission.

TO BE CONTINUED