The next morning, Shikamaru rolled out of Sasuke's bed, put on Sasuke's clothes, and ate some of Sasuke's food for breakfast. After he finished getting ready, he went to training ground seven to train with Sasuke's genin team as he used Sasuke's expressions, verbal tics, and fighting style to keep up appearances. He went back to Sasuke's apartment feeling fed up with everything Sasuke and wishing he could just pop into his own house and play a game of shogi with his dad while listening to his mom hum off key as she prepared dinner. Then, the three of them would sit down to eat dinner together, and his mom would yell at them for leaving their plates on the table. His dad would laugh and start clearing the table giving his wife a kiss on the cheek as he passed her. Yoshino would chuckle and shake her head before pulling Shikamaru outside with her to stare at the stars. She loved the stars, knowing the names of all the constellations and how to locate them. Shikamaru preferred watching the amorphous clouds knowing the clouds came and went as the wind did, but his mom liked stars, consistent in their placement and shape if not always in their visibility.
Shikamaru pulled out some rice and a packet of instant miso from a cupboard. He really should learn how to cook, but he had other priorities for the time being. He ate the bland meal slowly wondering which constellations would be most visible this time of the year. The Yonbi's horns gleamed bright in the spring. Maybe he would look for that constellation later.
After eating, Shikamaru set his bowl atop a pile of other bowls in the sink. He should probably do the dishes at some point. He sat back at the kitchen table covered in various notes and books about sealing. As he reached for the book he started reading the day before, he hesitated. Should he even continue on that path if it was pretty much guaranteed to take at least three years to get anywhere? Or should he start looking for another solution?
Shikamaru snatched the book and flipped it open to where he left off. The fact remained that the only two things the group had to go off of were sealing and mind transfer jutsus. It made more sense to continue looking into those two than to start over completely. Of course, he'd continue looking for other possibilities, but sealing needed his attention if he didn't want to be stuck as Sasuke for the rest of his life. Better to have a three year plan than no plan.
Shikamaru went to his room with the book to escape the pervasive feeling of loneliness he felt in the kitchen, but the silence and loneliness proved ubiquitous. Get a hold of yourself, Shikamaru, he told himself. You're not a kid.
An hour later, Shikamaru sat back in the kitchen, Ino and Neji joining him. "I guess Sasuke isn't showing up tonight," Ino said speculatively. "I wish he'd make up his mind about whether he wants to work with us or not."
"Forget about Sasuke," Neji said quietly. "I think it's time we take a peek at the top security scrolls in the Hokage tower."
Shikamaru tensed up as Ino nodded. So the two had already talked about this together. "When did you decide this was a good idea?" Shikamaru asked addressing the two of them. "And how could you possibly think that? It's not like we could just waltz into the most secure section of the building with the highest concentration of Konoha ninja, steal some scrolls, and then walk out. Even if we did manage to find a way to steal the scrolls, they'd track us down in less than ten minutes. Those scrolls have chakra imprints on them that help to locate the scrolls if someone does manage to take them."
Ino and Neji exchanged looks. "We know," said Ino. "But we can't just risk the possibility that there's something there relevant to our situation. Especially since I think more of my great-great uncle's scrolls might be in there."
Shikamaru leaned back in his seat. "What makes you think that? I thought you said he destroyed most of his work."
"He did, but I think there's still more of it left. When Granddad told me about the destruction, he said that the research burned in a fire Akio started himself in his home. Granddad said the only surviving scrolls were in a metal chest. It seems weird for Akio to have put just the scrolls we have into that chest."
"It does," Shikamaru agreed. The scrolls just didn't seem to hold enough information by themselves to be worthy of the protection of a locked chest. Shikamaru wanted to ask a few questions, but he settled for the most relevant one. "Why would they put some of those scrolls in the Hokage tower?" Clans usually kept any writings by clan members or connected to clan secrets.
"It's rare, but we hold our most dangerous secrets there. The Hokage tower has tighter security, and we want to minimize the risk of something destructive falling into the wrong hands. There are seals on Yamanaka scrolls to prevent an outsider from accessing them. When we send scrolls to the tower, it's to protect those secrets from a rogue Yamanaka," Ino said with a grimace clearly not liking the idea of a Yamanaka going rogue. Or maybe she was thinking about how Sasuke had already gotten through the Yamanaka's security.
Shikamaru sighed heavily. "Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?"
"Because I knew you wouldn't like it, and I didn't want to try breaking into the top security section of the Hokage tower either. Now, I'm thinking maybe we don't have a choice," Ino finished her sentence with a solemn look at the sealing books and papers covering the table.
Shikamaru shook his head. "I don't think we have the choice of breaking in," he said. "We'd have to steal what we wanted without detection and manage to rid the scrolls of the chakra imprint. We have pretty much no chance of getting away with it. We'll be arrested and charged with treason."
"This is important," Neji spoke up for the first time since he suggested the theft. "This could be our opportunity to find a way to get our bodies back. We could at least check out the security and see if we can come up with a plan."
"I don't know," Shikamaru said. Just poking around places they shouldn't be could get them in a lot of trouble.
"Do you really want to let something like this go?" Ino asked. No, he didn't, but planning a theft this large scale would take way too much time and careful planning.
"You can't go through life expecting everything to be easy and half-assing everything that isn't," Temari told him once in a much less dire situation. "The question isn't how hard it will be. The question is whether it will help you get closer to your goal, so shut up and do what needs to be done. You and I both know what you can accomplish when you put the effort into it."
Of course, Shikamaru didn't need a scolding from Temari to motivate him this time. He had all the motivation he needed every time he saw his reflection.
"Alright. Fine, but we can't be obvious about poking around the area. We don't do anything that might possibly be construed as intent to go where we're not wanted," said Shikamaru.
"You're worrying too much," said Ino. "No one's going to suspect three genin unless we do something really obvious."
"They'll latch onto any clue we're careless enough to leave," Shikamaru said undeterred by Ino's attempt to downplay the danger they faced. "We have to take this extremely slowly. We don't make any moves unless we know we won't get caught."
Ino and Neji nodded in agreement. "And we won't tell Sasuke about this," Neji said. Ino and Shikamaru nodded. It wouldn't do to give a traitor access to secret and dangerous scrolls. Not unless they had to.
Getting information on the security measures protecting the scrolls wasn't easy. For one thing, Konoha held its higher security secrets in the lower level of the Hokage tower where no genin had a reason to venture to. For another thing, no disguise would be effective. Inuzuka could smell through a disguise, sensors could sense through a disguise, and Ino would need to know how someone with clearance to the lower levels acted to pull off a successful mind transfer. The three settled for glimpses of who went in and out of the guarded area when they were in the tower for accepting and reporting missions.
On the other hand, keeping their new plan from Sasuke turned out to be easy. Sasuke started showing up sporadically to their meetings, but otherwise kept away from them other than Neji who he shared a team with. The other three didn't yet have much to talk about concerning their planned burglary, so sticking solely to sealing while Sasuke was there wasn't a setback at all. On one of the many days Sasuke didn't show, Ino informed the other two that she found her mark.
"Mai Hyuuga," she said triumphantly. "I've seen her go in and out of the lower levels bunches of times. And I can study her more easily than other people since she lives near where I'm living."
Neji made a displeased noise. "What?" Ino asked.
"I know Mai," was all Neji said.
"And?" Shikamaru asked. "Is it a bad idea to watch her?"
Neji stayed silent for a while before answering. "Generally, it's not a good idea to spy on any Hyuuga. We tend to notice when someone is watching us."
"Being incognito while gathering information is sort of my specialty," Ino said affronted. "I can handle a Hyuuga. Unless you think Mai is a problem specifically."
"In terms of this, no," Neji said a little bitterly. Ino and Shikamaru caught each other's eyes, Ino with a worried press of her lips and Shikamaru with a frown. Whatever bothered Neji about Mai, he didn't want to share. Neji continued, "Anyone with the clearance to enter the lower levels is going to be skilled. If you think watching Mai helps you the most, that's where we'll start."
Ino nodded still looking worried. "Ok. Can you tell me everything you know about Mai? To give us a head start?"
Neji spilled out everything he knew about the other Hyuuga with a resentful tone. Mai was a chunin in the branch family of the Hyuuga. She revered the main family and believed firmly in the rule of the strong over the weak as well as the right of the main family to exercise full control over the branch family. Shikamaru supposed that was where Neji's resentment came from. Mai had a husband and one kid the age of ten. The husband worked as a clerk for the clan's finances, and the boy went to school at the academy. Neji's knowledge stopped there.
As he finished speaking, Shikamaru tapped his fingers on his thigh in thought. Only Ino had much opportunity to watch Mai. "Do we know when she goes to the lower levels?" If he could watch from the distance when she leaves, he could take note of where she heads. Maybe there was somewhere outside of the Hyuuga compound and the Hokage tower that she spent a lot of time.
"As far as I can tell, she mostly arrives at night and leaves in the early morning. I've seen her come in during midday a couple of times, though," Ino said.
"The times didn't depend on the day?"
Ino shook her head. "Not that I noticed. She might arrive at noon one Tuesday and then at night the next one. The days weren't consistent."
Shikamaru sighed. That made even more work for him.
As it turned out, Shikamaru's first glimpse of Mai after that day was not anywhere near the Hokage tower. After training with team seven, Shikamaru joined Sakura and Naruto for dinner a barbecue place. Naruto wanted ramen, but Sakura refused adamantly. Both had been surprised the first time Shikamaru joined them for a meal, but he much preferred going out to trying to cook for himself.
"Hey, Sasuke, I can eat more beef than you," Naruto challenged.
"Ok," said Shikamaru. At Shikamaru's uncaring reply, Naruto folded his arms into a pout. He always tried to pull Shikamaru into weird competitions Shikamaru wanted no part of.
"Naruto, nobody cares how much you can eat," Sakura said rolling her eyes. Shikamaru tuned out the ensuing argument as Mai Hyuuga stepped through the entrance to the restaurant with a couple of other woman. Mai and her companions sat at the bar.
"Sakura," Shikamaru said breaking up her and Naruto's spat. Sakura looked up surprised that he addressed her suddenly.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Why do you want to work in R&D?" If Shikamaru looked at Sakura as she talked, he could see Mai in his peripheral vision without looking like he was watching her.
"Oh! Well," Sakura started looking a little flustered. At the bar, Mai downed a shot with her two companions and immediately flagged down the bartender for another round. "I've always been curious about how chakra works and how it's used in different jutsus. I feel like when I learn exactly how a jutsu works it's easier to perform. I want to learn more about how chakra works and use that knowledge to come up with new possible jutsu."
Sakura spoke enthusiastically before cutting herself off blushing a bit at her excitement. "What do you mean? You just form the correct hand seals to do a jutsu," Naruto said blinking in confusion at Sakura.
Sakura stared at Naruto incredulously. "Um, no. Not exactly." Shikamaru settled back into his seat as Sakura explained how to mould chakra in a variety of ways for different effects. Mai threw her head back with a laugh over something one of the other women she was with said. Shikamaru examined the other two women. Both looked like civilians, strange drinking buddies for a kunoichi.
Not long later, Shikamaru realized he was gaining nothing useful from this. He learned Mai could handle a lot of liquor and she had civilian friends. Hardly something to be used in infiltrating the Hokage tower. Maybe Ino could glean something out of the interaction for her impersonation.
"Oh, man. All the food's gone," complained Naruto loudly. "Not paying!" he shouted as he ducked under the table and ran for the door.
Sakura stood up quickly shaking her fist at Naruto. "Naruto, get back here!" She ran after Naruto and grabbed him by the collar right before the door. "Where do you think you're going?"
Naruto laughed nervously. "Uh, well, you see, I left my wallet at home…"
"Naruto," Sakura growled.
"Sakura?" One of the women beside Mai asked looking at Sakura with wide eyes. Mai looked over to see who her friend was talking to and turned back to her drink dismissively upon seeing Sakura. Sakura turned to the woman and immediately dropped Naruto crossing her hands behind her back innocently.
"Ah, Amari-san," Sakura dipped her head into a small bow. Naruto took the opportunity to escape. "How have you been?"
"Good. I haven't seen you in my shop lately," the woman, Amari apparently, said.
"Sorry. I've been a little busy."
"I see," Amari said glancing at the headband on Sakura's head. She smiled. "Well, stop by once you get the chance. Plums are back in season, so we have plum daifuku again. I know how much you loved those last year. You're mom kept coming back to buy more."
Sakura nodded. "Ok. I will." Shikamaru smiled to himself. Perhaps, he hadn't learned anything about Mai here, but he did find out Sakura knew one of her friends who seemingly had a bakery. It was a start.
Amari waved goodbye to Sakura, and Sakura walked back over to the table. "Sorry. I let Naruto get away," Sakura said.
Shikamaru shrugged. "We'll get him back next time. Let's pay and go." The two split the bill for the meal and exited the restaurant.
Before Shikamaru and Sakura split ways, Shikamaru had to ask Sakura about Amari. "You knew that woman in there?"
"Yes. She runs a bakery near my house," Sakura explained.
"Is she a civilian?"
"Uh, yes," Sakura looked at Shikamaru questioningly.
"Never mind," Shikamaru said. "See you tomorrow." Sakura waved disappointedly as Shikamaru headed away from Sakura.
Shikamaru walked through the door to the apartment he currently stayed at and started as he saw Sasuke waiting casually on the couch. "Do you usually break into other people's places when they're not home?" Shikamaru asked after shutting the door.
Sasuke stood up and glared coldly at Shikamaru. "This is my apartment."
"Why? According to property rights, you gave up ownership to the apartment as soon as you defected from Konoha," Shikamaru pointed out. Sasuke bristled, but turned and headed to the kitchen table without responding to Shikamaru's words.
"I had a question to ask about the storage seal," he said pulling a paper with a rough representation of a storage seal from the middle of the table. Shikamaru stepped over to the opposite side of the table curiously.
"This late at night?" he asked. Instead of answering the question, Sasuke shoved the paper at Shikamaru who glanced at it briefly before lifting his eyes back to Sasuke with suspicion. Sasuke was acting a bit strange.
"What about this?" Shikamaru asked waving the paper Sasuke had handed him. Sasuke calmly sat down and pointed to the symbol for retrieval near the center of the seal. Shikamaru flicked his gaze down to the symbol and immediately back up.
"How do you change this to summon stored kunai with enough speed to shoot it at the enemy?" Sasuke asked.
"Ino's the one that's been making those kinds of seals. You should be asking her." Shikamaru sighed when Sasuke just stared blankly back at him. He didn't know why Sasuke always went to him first, but he wished Sasuke would just go to Ino when it was clear she was more well versed in the subject.
"Fine," Shikamaru said grabbing a piece of paper and a pen. He sat down reluctantly. This could take a while, and he'd really rather go to sleep. "As I'm sure you already figured out, you don't want to use the retrieval symbol in this case."
Shikamaru started writing out the correct symbol but paused as he noticed something. Sasuke's hands were hidden under the table though they'd been resting on the table just seconds before. Shikamaru tried to move, but it was too late.
Sometime later, Shikamaru blinked his eyes open from his position on the couch just in time to see Ino slip out the front door. No, not Ino, Sasuke. Shikamaru was still a bit disoriented. He walked unsteadily to the kitchen to get a glass of water. His throat was burning. As he leaned against the counter drinking the water, Shikamaru tried to figure out why Sasuke used a mind transfer jutsu. Was it just to get his body back for a short time, or was there another reason? All Shikamaru knew was that this was yet another problem for him to deal with.