A/N: Review, please! I'm really putting big hope into this story and I want it to be the best it can!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Shikamaru groaned as the beams of sunlight hit him in the face, seeping through his curtains. Rolling over to face the clock, he noticed a seal lying on his desk, with a Hokage emblem on it. He closed his eyes, hoping for the dream to enfold him once more, when he heard his mother stomping in the kitchen. He sighed, knowing that this day was probably wasted. No day when he was forced to wake up before noon could be good.

Troublesome...grumbling, he reached for the scroll, slowly folding it open. Whatever it was, it was trouble for sure and he wasn't keen on facing it.

Nara Shikamaru, you have been chosen...bla bla bla...for the jounin exam in the Sand country, which takes place in two weeks. Further details available at the reception desk...yada yada yada... you're free from mission for the time being. Signed, Tsunade, The fifth Godaime of Konoha, etc, etc, etc.

He scowled, not believing what he just read. No way I'm being a jounin, he grimaced. Higher ranks meant more troublesome missions and harder work. Nara Shikamaru wasn't excited about working. Actually, there were few things the shadow master got excited about. 'Alright, I'll just tell them that I won't be a jounin, that's all. No big deal.' He glanced at the scroll, the line 'You're free from missions for the time being' flashed before his eyes. Slowly, he stretched, wincing at the crack that sounded in his back. 'Maybe I'll tell them later.'

Sighing in content, the young man closed his eyes, feeling a cold breeze pass. It was already autumn and the days were beginning to get colder and colder, which wasn't unnoticed by the deer boy. Unwillingly, his mind drifted to the scroll, cursing it all over. He had enough troubles with being a chuunin, he really didn't need more. Not to mention, the thought of the reaction of villagers was making him feel even worse.

After he graduated to chuunin, being the only one from the whole group, a wave of gossips washed through citizens. That idiot teacher, Asuma, couldn't keep his mouth shut and in one day after his promotion, everyone knew of the reasons. His already incredibly high IQ, which not only seemed to grow as the years passed but also was probably the most troublesome thing in his life. Anyways, when it occurred to everyone what genius they had, you'd think that they'd be delighted. No such luck.

Except Itachi Uchiha, he was the youngest chuunin in 30 years. Since everyone knew what Itachi had done, they had reasonable motives to hate him too.

Everywhere he went, he was greeted by whispers and pointing. The hated gazes of villagers caused it to be impossible to go to a shop and buy anything. He only got solitude in his favorite cloud watching spot and among ninja fellows. Ordinary people didn't understand his situation and that was new to them so they feared him. He was able to understand it, but why they had to say such ridicules things?

Flashback

'Itachi, Sasuke and Orochimaru were geniuses too' one woman whispered loudly to her companion as they passed him.

'Yes' the companion just as loudly agreed 'and didn't they have smaller IQ?'

He bowed his head, slowing his pace so he wouldn't need to listen to their conversation. It seemed that they wanted to make him suffer even more, because both women kept steady pace with the shadow boy.

'They say he'll be a special ANBU before he's 15'

'That's nothing! I bet he will destroy the whole village before that.'

'I have no idea what's our Hokage thinking. She should exile him as fast as possible'

The burden on his shoulders seemed to grow as the number of successful mission grew higher.

'No wonder he's so successful, he's a spy!'

'That's bull, he's Orochimaru's companion and he had taken over Hokage!'

'Thanks to him, Itachi and Orochimaru will come back to finish us off!'

End Flashback

People were so unfair. It wasn't his fault that he was born like this. He never asked for his brain, damnit! He always wanted to be just an average shinobi, and his cursed intelligence made his dream impossible. He should be the one who's angry here, right?

He opened his eyes, squinting them a little as bright light blinded him. The clouds lazily passed by, making him a little drowsy.

He was anxious if the rumors will return in case he graduated once again.

"Ino-chan, look!" Tenten waved a scroll right in front of Ino's face. The blond girl blinked, trying to force sleep away from her eyes. "I was chosen to enter an exam for jounins! It's in two weeks!"

Her companion blinked once again, smiling weakly. "Congratulations, Tenten. I'm happy for you."

A little annoyed and angry, she went back to work.

Why didn't Tsunade choose me? I trained so hard since I became a chuunin...and I really improved. Was it because jounins get seduction missions only in emergency? She sighed sadly, feeling a lump in her throat. Is this all I'm good at? Except that, I wasted all those years trying to get better?

The brown haired girl looked closely at her companion. Something was clearly wrong. She didn't want to force the mind walker kunoichi to talk about something she didn't want to. So, acting like nothing happened, she continue to ramble, all the time watching her friend carefully, in case she saw something uncharacteristic.

"Shikamaru and Naruto were appointed too, you know!" Ino jumped, startling her companion.

"Shikamaru's taking it too?" The girl yelled in the weapon's master face, wetting it slightly with her saliva. The asked girl blinked. "Well, yes, at least that's what the Hokage told me...if he won't, Tsunade promised to make his life a living hell." The blond woman dropped her comrade. "I...need to go." She used one of her seduction tricks, making teary eyes and a sad face at Tenten, who gulped. "Please, Ten-chan? I will cover for you later! I beg you, I need to go..." seeing her hesitation, she dropped to her knees, holding out arms in a dramatic gesture.

"Oh, Ten-chan, I heard the news! Let the fire of youth burn in your soul forever, my sweet angel!" A wild, green whirlwind entered the room, messing all the papers and destroying most of them. It surrounded the shocked girl, encircling her frame as it materialized in the form of Rock Lee.

'Sweet Angel' turned purple, slowly going into her 'Devilness from hell' form. "LEE! You MORON, I TOLD you not to do that!" The man in green suit didn't seem to care at all. Unlike Tenten, he was still cheerful with fire burning in his eyes and a wide grin on his face. "How could I resist the joy of youth, my darling? Together, we'll become the famous pair of Konoha! Most powerful jounins in love!" Gradually, the 'Devilness from hell' turned again into Tenten, who was slowly processing the information Rock gave her. "Wait, what do you mean together? Only I, ME, am going to Sand country!" she waved her arms, feeling a little guilty for breaking his happiness. Lee grinned even more "Fear not, my princess! I shall not leave you, for I, ME, am going also! Gai-sensei", here his eyes sparkled like starts, "fought with all his power of youth and finally he managed to convince Tsunade to give me a chance!" He paused, only to show his 'hero pose' and pumping his fist in the air. "Oh, Gai-sensei! I won't fail! I won't disappoint you!" he wailed, almost crushing Tenten in his embrace. Ino snickered. "I bet Tsunade just wanted to get rid of Gai, that why she gave up." She muttered. Lee turned to her, tears streaming from his face. "Now, who would want to do that?"

Ino chose not to answer this question and discreetly turned her face when the 'famous green beats of Konoha' planted a long and passionate kiss on his girlfriend's lips, before running out, screaming his love to all Konoha.

Seeing the still flushed and breathless Tenten, the blond girl smiled cunningly. An opening!

"Well, Ten-chan. Since it was YOUR boyfriend who caused this mess, you should clean it, right?" Tenten only nodded, looking in the distance when the cloud of dust slowly set down.

"And I get enough time to take a walk, ne? I'll be back soon!" Ino was already out, rushing to find her own boyfriend. The faster she got out, the better. Unfortunately, Tenten recovered really quickly. "Ino, you cheater!" she screamed waving her fists in the door frame and throwing various weapons in the small figure disappearing in the distance, with a long ponytail swinging in the air. "I helped you with cleaning when you got in that fight with Shikamaru-san, remember!" Flaring angrily, Tenten snatched a broom and started swinging it with force, trying to let her stamina off.

Ino grinned, hearing the shouts of her raging teammate. She couldn't really blame Tenten, Lee was a real nuisance, but what a handsome trouble he was! Since he grew his hair, making the bangs fall on his eyebrows, he looked really good. What's more, he had great legs and that tight suit made them stood out even more. Plus, he always had the funniest responses, which usually made Tenten furious. Thank god, her anger never lasted long. by the time she got back, the room would be cleaned and her friend would be sitting calmly at her desk, completely into work.

Or maybe not. She winced as a kunai flew pass her missing her face only an inch. Tenten had a marvelous aim.

Shikamaru was still lying in the same spot, oblivious to the ruckus he unwillingly caused. He was drifting of a little, when something, suspiciously looking like another scroll, bounced off his forehead. Cursing under his breath, he sat up and unrolled it.

I knew that it was going to be a bad day. So much for Tsunade keeping her word. What is that woman thinking? First she tells me, I'm free of missions and now this. Troublesome woman, troublesome missions, troublesome life!

Performing a few hand seals, he quickly teleported right into the Hokage office, just when a certain figure appeared in the distance.

Poof!

Ack! The Hokage jumped, stepping on her robes but somehow still managing to keep her balance.

"Shikamaru! Don't get in like that! What if I was bathing or getting dressed?" The woman placed a hand on her large breast, glaring daggers at the man before her.

"Shouldn't you do that things in your home, Hokage-sama?" The asked boy scowled, pushing his hands into his pockets, "What do you want? I mean-" he corrected himself quickly, "-What do you want, your majesty?"

"Hahaha, very funny." Tsunade growled, sitting again. "There's a shortage of jounins and I need you on one mission. I know," she raised her up when Shikamaru opened his mouth in protest, "that you're still a chuunin, but you won't go on that mission, I only need you to give orders by a transmitter. It's a fairly easy mission, actually only two positions are endangered. The leader is not necessary to be present there, because it's just formality that a jounin should be a part of a team for such missions. Here're the details."

"Fine. I'll do it, but under one circumstance. I won't have to take the jounin exam. What's the point if you're using me as a jounin anyways?" The man looked over the paper Tsunade gave him.

Mission nr 955500044-E

Type: Spy

Team members:

Yada yada yada...

Seduction and getting information: Ino Yamanaka

What the hell? Again?

"Hokage-sama, why did you put Ino in 'Seduction' again? I think she already had enough of these missions! And isn't she chosen as a jounin as well?" Shikamaru glared at the woman.

"Erm...well, you have to admit, she's very skilled at it. Every spy mission with her as a bait is successful." No wonder, Shikamaru thought absentmindedly, with this body...Stop it! Don't think about her like that! He cursed as soon as that thought passed his mind. Ino was much more than a pile of stunning cells.

"I admit, she improved much, but..." Something clicked inside the boy's mind. "But jounins don't get seduction missions, right?" He finished for her aloud, knowing the answer.

"Well, yes. Now, hurry up. This mission is inside the village, one of the citizens is suspected to be a spy. The task will begin soon."

"I won't do it." He stated in a firm voice, throwing he scroll back to her and turning away.

"Shikamaru, don't you dare leave. Why not?" A dangerously calm voice halted him. He winced as his right eye twitched in annoyance.

"I would never give her such an order. I couldn't do it."

"Nara, you're a shinobi. In this country, you can fight or kill your own children, wife even parents. Giving an order of seducing really isn't that bad." The blond woman stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Fine, let's make a deal. You'll take part in the exam with Ino but you'll have to carry out this mission successfully. Alright?"

Shikamaru turned to face her.

"Shika! Wait for me with taking the jounin exam! I want to do it with you, just like when we were in Team 10!"

"...Fine."

And as if fate wanted it, he bumped right into his girlfriend after coming out of the office. He forced a smile.

"Oh! Shikamaru! I looked all over for you! Congratulations, I'm sure you'll become a jounin!" Under her fake smile, she was a little bitter and disappointed. Did he forget what she told him...?

"You too. We're leaving together, I just met with Tsunade." Ino blinked, clearly surprised.

"Kyaaa! Thank you, Shikamaru!" She erupted into giggles, jumping onto his form and tackling them both to the ground. He let out a huff, when her elbow jammed into his chest, leaving him with no oxygen. "Yea, well...first, you have to complete this mission." Quickly, he entangled her form from his limbs, terrified that someone might see them. He didn't need to ruin his reputation even more. He watched with regret as her face fell, when she read the details.

"We'll be in a constant connection by transmitters. If something goes wrong, I'll arrange help." That was the only comfort he could give her. They were shinobis. Their life wasn't a fairytale and not everything might be alright. And even if for them everything will be fine, others will suffer.

"My, aren't you a handsome one," she purred, remembering to draw out words slowly, so that it'll sound more tempting.

The ninja was anything but handsome. He was a big man, with a wild beard and very darkly tanned skin. He was middle aged, thirty-forty years. Right now, his mind was only set on fucking this sweet little thing under him. The girl was young, she looked no more than 16 years and that aroused him the most. He started to tug on her panties, trying to pull them down...Ino froze as his other hand traveled up her thighs. She wanted nothing more but kick him in the guts and ran away. She grabbed his wrist. "Not yet, darling" she whispered. "You've been a bad boy, right? Giving Konoha information to the Sound village...And bad boys get punished..." with those words, she pounced on him, immobilizing his hand by pinning them to the floor. She straddled his legs.

"Yes...It was worth it though. I can give you fortune, just stay and..." She bent lower as his lips whispered disgusting things in her ear. She forced away a shudder of pure loathing.

Third rule of a Konoha ninja: A shinobi has to control his body, no matter what.

Shikamaru clenched his fists hearing the sounds from the room. The transmitter had to be placed quite nearby the couple as he heard their every word. Such intense wave of anger washed through him that it made it almost impossible to just sit there. He wanted to run to Ino and...Rip that man's gut out. However, the fury soon dismissed and he was back to his old, grumpy self.

Troublesome...he muttered. A knock could be heard.

"Shikamaru-san...I brought you some tea..." A quiet, uncertain voice echoed in the silent room. He sighed.

"Come in, Hinata-san."

Hinata really grew past those years. She became more independent and a little braver. The stuttering stopped as soon as she got over Naruto. She even ignored her father warnings and kept meeting with Kiba in secret. Their relationship was steady, much thanks to the fact that they were in the same team for years. Actually, he envied Kiba that his lover wasn't a kunoichi and at the same time he was proud that Ino was. Strange feeling it was, but he paid no mind. Too troublesome and he had enough work without analyzing his feelings.

"You should be thankful that you can be with Ino-san, Shikamaru-san. Look at me and Kiba. I have to betray my own family, just to be with the one I love. Thank God, Tsunade-sama always sends Kiba to me when his injured...that way we can be a little longer together." She smiled sadly. "Kiba-kun even refused to be jounin for me. He said that he wanted to be with me as much as it's possible."

Hyuuga were a cruel clan. Weak people were not needed and not respected.

"Aren't you cross about that thing with Naruto?" Shikamaru asked indolently, ignoring Ino's voice ringing in one of his ears.

"Not really...Naruto-kun will always have a special place in my heart. He gave me strength. Without him, I wouldn't have Kiba-kun right now. I will always treasure that feeling in my heart. But...as long as he's happy, I guess it's alright with me."

"Troublesome...relationships are sooo troublesome. Why did I even..." muttering something, Shika paused as he heard a male voice in the transmitter.

"Yes...It was worth it though. I can give you fortune, just stay and.." the rest wasn't audible, but that was all he needed.

"Team 37, attack. You have the right to kill him." Finally, it's over. He breathed deeply with relief. Hinata already left. He took out a paper and started writing a report.

You have the right to kill him...Who gave me this right, anyway?

In this world, you can kill whoever you want and might not be punished by it. In this world blood, weapons were common in every child's life. Not many of them experienced real childhood. Naruto and Shino, both were sacrificed by their clans to become stronger. They had no choice, but follow the path they were forced to enter. By passing down abilities, a child had no choice but use them. They took the burden of their family sins on their shoulders. Their innocent hands were stained by blood without their knowledge.

That is how things were in Konoha and in every village. And it won't change, never.

The world they lived in was a cruel place. Just to keep their sanity, they had to pretend that it was all normal, just like it should be. And maybe it was.

They didn't know how to live any other way.

Shikamaru sighed, slowly getting up and heading towards his home. No point in waiting for Ino, she won't come anyways.

Flashback

"I'm so sorry, Shikamaru! I had to wash myself from the mission and..." she trailed, noticing the suspicious look on his face. "And it took you two hours? God, Ino don't lie to..." it was then when he noticed how red all her body was, as if she was scrubbing herself till her skin came of. "...Why did you try to do, peel of your skin? It's not pretty enough?" He snickered a little, even though he wasn't amused by his stupid joke. Ino stayed silent, as if not knowing what to say.

Days later, he found out what kind of missions Ino has to go. He also overheard Tenten talking to Sakura on his way to the Hokage.

"I feel sorry for Ino. She's strangely sensitive about this all seduction thing. She said she couldn't sleep after she experienced it for the first time. She was rambling about how filthy she felt, how disgusting...Maybe you could talk to her, Sakura." The pink haired girl sighed. "Sure, I can do it. But what for? It won't help her. That's how our life is. Ino has to get use to it."

Not wanting to hear anymore of it, Shikamaru left.

But something was wrong with their relationship ever since. Every time he actually went through the trouble of touching her unexpectedly, she always stiffed before relaxing. And every time he thought they will actually do it...She stopped, saying that she's still not ready. That was slowly driving him crazy. Why was it, that she was ready to do it on every mission and not with him?

For him, Ino was very tempting. He loved her character and her body. As lazy as he was, when he wanted something badly and cared for it, he did everything to get it. Though he was a very patient man, so he could wait. But in their future, he didn't want to wake up next to her as she rolled away from him in disgust.

End Flashback.

Shika sighed. Those memories couldn't be completely erased from her mind, but maybe they'll fade when she will stop taking such missions.

But to gain something you need to sacrifice something in return. Even if she stopped taking seduction missions, she will have to take more dangerous ones. The chance of her surviving will rapidly fell. And if she died, than he...he...

Shikamaru cursed, looking at the sky. All clouds had passed.

Damned, troublesome day!

Meanwhile, in the sound country...

"I already told you, I'll never betray Konoha!" A white-eyed man hissed, looking with hatred at the man in front of him.

"Tsk, tsk...we'll see about it. You lasted five months and your will should break soon. Very soon." A pale man with dark hair looked at him with amusement.

"Orochimaru...you fucking piece of-" Neji's cursing were stopped by a swift kick in his already wounded face. He groaned.

"Orochimaru-sama. I have something that might finally get him into talking..." a man with glasses interrupted, opening the door. His master turned to him.

"Good. Let's try it out then."

Neji didn't even feel when they tied his limp, bloodied body on the wall by his broken arms.

"What will you do with all those information, Master?" Kabuto asked, tying the Hyuuga's wrists tighter.

"Oh, I'll attack Konoha of course. Last time, I couldn't succeed but now...things might be very different." His eyes flashed angrily. "I'll destroy everything you loved, Sarutobi...every member of you 'family'...you'll pay me for everything." He growled. As if suddenly remembering something, he glanced at the silent person in the corner. "Aren't I right...Sasuke?"

The sharingan user didn't even bother to respond, just nodded his head. Konoha will pay for giving birth to his brother.

Neji managed to open his right eye. The left one was too swollen to even try. Blood in his mouth and nose made it almost impossible to breathe and he was rapidly gasping for breath. His dry throat didn't make things better and each breath felt as if he was swallowing fire mixed with the coppery taste of his own blood.

Seeing Kabuto nearing him with a bottle he clenched his teeth and held his breath. Maybe if he suffocated, this nightmare will end...

Humans are really strange creatures. They'll do everything to survive, that was always in their instincts. In ninja cases, it was even more evident. The determination and strong will made it so impossible to break a strong shinobi, however everyone had its limits.

The Fourth rule of Konoha ninja: Sooner die than betray your teammates or village.

Neji's screams echoed through the whole night.

A/N: Well, I'm not sure when I'll update it. Reviews always seem to get me into a great mood for writing...

P.S. I never knew that writing about Lee could be this fun! XD