********
Ino stuck a piece of pocky in her mouth as she continued down the roads of the bustling market area of the Konohagure Village. She watched all the little Genin and academy students run around wildly, playing with such blithe. She couldn't help but laugh at the thought; 'I was really such a shrimp at that age? Was everyone once that carefree and in a state of bliss? I wonder what it's like. to enjoy the world for what it is, and not know all the harsh realities of it, and I haven't gone through any serious ones compared to all the other ninja.'
"Oh hey Ino!" A voice called from behind her, she turned her head slightly when she finished the last bit of her pocky, and then smiled, "Hey Chouji, what's up?"
"I dunno. but I wanted to talk about Shikamaru to you." Chouji slowly put a fistful of Potato chips into his mouth.
"Huh?" Ino was a little unsure about what Chouji meant, but she had a feeling she was going to find out soon.
"Wheal.(Well)" Chouji was still crunching his teeth against the crispy chips, then swallowing finally before he continued more clearly, "I think we're become less part of a group now that his parents have gotten a hold on him. it was kinda fun to had the team together." Chouji reminisced, looking up at the sky, yet still holding the bag of the chips close to him.
"You're right. it was. kinda fun.although he usually is more of a pain that a helpful person, I still miss that lazy baka. We were a pretty good team.hm." Ino thought gradually to herself, her eyes drifting slightly, she was surprised herself that she had missed him, she missed all the fights with him. She had a feeling, an uncomfortable feeling of silence, she felt like something was about to roll off her tongue, but before any answer could be given, there stood five strange shinobi all dressed and cloaked in black. Ino and Chouji's mouths were agape, the ninja were so out of place, but even more so, their eyes were creepy, it was as thought when they looked at you they could pierce the soul. They sauntered, looking about the Kohonagure Village almost in a cultish fashion, tightly together, obviously not wanting to be separated. It was an odd scene, what were foreign ninja like them doing around the peaceful village? They were about the same height as Ino and Chouji, possibly the same age. One turned to Ino and Chouji with curiosity and stated in a nasal yet snappy voice,
"Where is the 5th Hokage?" The shinobi took a step closer to them; they reconized it as a girls voice as she was about an inch shorter than Ino. Emerald eyes flickered from underneath a black hood, outlined with speackles and thick lines around them, scars crossing through her face of what could be seen.
" Why should I tell a damn foreigner like you?!" Ino answered sharply, offended by the forceful tone in the shinobi's voice. Another member of the gang stepped forward, this one had amethyst colored eyes, covered in a darker blue glimmering eye shadow and thick black lines outlining the eye turning into swirls at the end of each eye.
"We have no business with them," It was a melodious voice, somewhat deep and obviously threatening, seductive in a way. Obviously a female, she put her hand on top of her companion's shoulders, which she was much taller than. The smaller one snarled as she followed after the other one reluctantly through the town.
"Well that was weird." Chouji observantly added, "Something tells me I don't want to run into them again.." He stuffed his hands into his pockets, while Ino stood there looking after them with a scornful look, "Yeah. they're not good news...I don't like them.not at all." Ino added slowly and her and Chouji walked the other way from the previously encountered group.

********
Tsunade was looking over some files, her eyes scanning them carefully as she leisurely leaned back on her chair. She removed the papers from in front of her face, to reveal the face of a very wiped out Chuuin. Her hair was still in position, and luckily her habits of gambling had been reduced from her overwork as the Hokage. Tsunade looked up at him with astonishment,
"Shikamaru, your mission files just keep getting better and better, you'll be looking for a Jounin position before you know it, you might even make a good Anbu squad captain one day..." Tsunade answered him, but instead of her wished reaction, he scowled and grumbled shaking his head,
"Can I please have a break."
"Yeah. you're been working really hard Shikamaru, you deserve one. I know you haven't seen a lot of your friends lately it'll be goo-" Tsuanade stated before her door crashed open.
"We have come Hokage to expand the territories of the Minichiban Island!" The five cloaked figures appeared in the room, except the one with the overdone eyes spoke, bringing this to Tsunade's attention. Tsunade curled her lips and glared unmovingly at them. Shikamaru only thought of one thing, who were they? He got into a stance preparing for any sudden movements or surprises.
"Where is the Minchiban Island?" Tsunade eyed them curiously, for her herself did not know of its presence.
"Off the coast of the leaf country. a small island which most have not heard of. it is very small compared to most countries, but I can assure you. we're not hear to play games." The tallest one spoke again is a steady, calming pace.
"And you are five ninja, declaring war on a huge country, and you are only the age of 16 most likely, you honestly believe we would be threatened.?" Tsunade observed them with a cocky look upon her face. The speaker was obviously offended as she walked up to Tsunade,
"No.. we are not planning of such thing. taking on that challenge would be absurd.it would be much better if we took the Hokage as a ransom." The ninja smirked with pleasure.
"Well you usually don't tell your captive that they are about to be taken."
"No, 5th, they're not going to do it now. later. they're setting something up now." Shikamaru murmured to Tsunade.
"Quite a smart boy." A ruby eyed one hissed, "I'm surprised they have any intellectuals, men are pathetic creatures." Her voice was raspy, snake- like, and her eyes looked even more like those of a snake.
"Hey, women aren't the greatest things is the world ya know. they're a real pain is the ass." Shikamaru snickered, his stance getting stiffer, 'I really don't like these opponents. are they all women?'
"We will be back. but this is a threat. do not take us so lightly." The amethyst one slowly forwarned, then gathering in a circle now. The one with emerald eyes glared at Shikamaru and added sourly, "Damn boy, I'm gonna kick your sorry ass!" She shook her fist before they all dissapeared into thin air.

*********
Calm blue eyes(and yes, calm), wavered through the sunset. Naruto was walking through the woods slowly, his feet padding against the trail, he reconized where his Rasagen had hit and then he entered the town again, following the path he did the other day. He was relatively calm, and for once, deep in thought. He was somewhat naïve, espeically when it came to people, even more so himself. The images rushed through his mind of what had happened. Hinata was so weird, but she was the only one that came to save him, maybe that was luck, but still. what did she mean, always watching him? Even though she knew that everyone hated him, the fox demon, she still noticed him, and regarded him, and didn't hate him? He stuffed his hands in his pockets, his jacket was wrapped around his waist on this hot summer evening. It seemed as though he was searching for someone, but not Hinata. who?

******** Chapter 3 End To be continued..