Anko shook her head, "I swear, you're so stupid."

Naruto gave a painful chuckle, "That makes you stupid too, since you're stupid enough to date me."

Anko closed her eyes with a smile, "You almost killed yourself."

"I only damaged my arm."

"You mean almost got it torn from your body. And it could've been much worse."

"But I ended up making my own jutsu." He countered with a cheesy grin, "So in the end, it turned out to be a plus!"

"Unbelievable." Anko sighed playfully with a chuckle, "Why am I even dating you?"

"Because we can't find anyone else." He joked, "And my stupidity balances out with your insanity." He said, smiling.

"I'm not that insane."

"Hah, yeah, and I'm not that stupid."

Anko grinned and stood up from the chair she was sitting in. She walked over to him as he laid on the hospital bed and hovered her face an inch away above his.

"You're plenty stupid, trust me." She taunted. She then pressed her lips against his, pulling him by his chin. Naruto returned the kiss, which quickly grew to a lewd make out session.

"Don't make me have to spray you guys with a fire hose."

Anko opened her eyes and looked toward the door way and grinned as she saw Tsunade looking at them both with narrowed eyes.

"Sorry, Tsunade-sama, it was Naruto's fault. He practically threw himself at me like a wild animal." She teased, sitting back in her chair.

"Oh yeah, blame the guy currently laying in a hospital bed with a broken arm." He shot back sarcastically. Tsunade rolled her eyes, unable to prevent her smirk from showing.

"Young love, I swear." She sighed mentally, "I don't care who's fault it is. No kissing in my hospital." She warned, "Now Naruto, I studied the rate which your healing factor heals and repairs your torn ligaments, bone damages, and ripped tissue, and it'll take about two days for your arm to heal fully."

"Two days?!" He shouted, "No way, I've had broken bones before and they've healed in about half a day, at most!"

"Naruto," she said in a motherly tone, "You didn't just break your arm. Your jutsu practically destroyed it on a cellular level. It's incredible that your arm is even healing right now, because if it were anyone else, I'd tell them it would be better off getting amputated, if it hadn't been torn off in the first place."

Naruto still pouted and crossed his arms, "So what?! What am I supposed to do without my right arm for two days?! That means I can't train properly for fourty-eight hours!"

"Oh shit, he can do math." Anko commented with fake awe, following with a round of applause. Naruto gave her a glare that she paid no attention to.

"That's what you get for being so reckless. No one told you to try your jutsu out as soon as you got it finished." She nagged him, "Just be glad that it didn't turn out a lot worse, because it easily could have."

"That's what I said not five minutes ago." Anko added.

Naruto simply sighed.

She then looked at him seriously, "But all jokes aside Naruto, that jutsu is very dangerous and very powerful. It destroys on a cellular level, and I have never seen anything like that. That is why I'm... What is the name of your jutsu, again?"

"Futon: Rasenshuriken."

"That is why I'm listing 'Futon: Rasenshuriken' as a forbidden S-ranked ninjutsu."

Anko was wise. She covered her ears.

"WHAT?!" He exclaimed, "What do you mean 'forbidden'?!"

"Forbidden, as in, illegal. Banned. Outlawed. Naruto, that jutsu is incredibly dangerous and lethal. Anyone getting hit by that jutsu will die instantaneously. And I've seen the damaged done in the training grounds where you used it, and it is not pretty. I'm amazed that you've came out of there with only a destroyed arm and a few cuts and bruises. Nevertheless, I don't want you using it unless it's absolutely necessary."

"But-"

"No buts, Naruto. This is going to be your only warning. Now I suggest you go home for now and get some rest, it's late."

Tsunade saw the look on his face and frowned, "I'm only doing this for your safety, Naruto-kun."

With that, she left the room.

"Damn it!" He groaned, "What's the point in making a new jutsu if I can't even use it?!"

"She never said you couldn't use it." Said his lover, "Just not when it isn't necessary. If you can take out your enemy without it, then do it. Don't just use it because you think it's cool, because things could end up worse next time. And I don't want my idiot boyfriend severely hurting or killing himself because of his own stupidity."

Naruto sighed, "Alright, I got the point..."

"Good. And hey, look on the bright side, you made a completely original S-ranked ninjutsu on your own. Not many people can say they've done that."

This managed to make Naruto grin, "Yeah, that's true. I guess I'm pretty awesome, huh?"

"You're... alright." She teased. She then looked him up and down with a smirk. "You're right-handed, right?"

Naruto looked at the cast covering his forearm, "Yeah."

"So that means that you can't masturbate for the next two days, right?"

Naruto blushed a bit, "Er, yeah, I guess so..."

"Well..." She walked over to him again, this time to climb on the bed with him and straddle his waist. "It is my duty as your lover to keep you satisfied when you can't do it yourself..."

Naruto felt heat rising in his loins, "But... Aren't you...?"

"Yeah, still going through menstrual issues. But, it doesn't mean I can't give you a hand, considering how yours is out of commission." She whispered in his ear, groping him through the bed sheets. Naruto sighed from pleasure.

"Anko... We're still in the hospital..."

She laughed deviously, "So?"

"Baa-chan would flip if she found out what you're doing to me..."

Anko only gave him a dirty smirk and climbed atop of him, straddling just below his hips, so her hand still has access to the tent in the sheets.

"Don't you think I know that?" She told him, "It's that daring sense of danger that kind of excites me, y'know... The thrill of potentially getting caught in the act gets me hot..." She moaned.

"You're crazy..." He groaned once she crept her hand under the sheets to stroke his bare member after threading it through his hospital gown.

"Isn't that why you find me sexy?" She teased, "And I know you like it, too; the thrill of potentially getting caught. Your cock wouldn't feel like a lead pipe in my hand if it didn't..."

"A-Anko..." He mumbled, gripping the sheets below him, "Don't make me... not on the sheets..."

She looked at him quizzically, and removed her hand, "You don't think I'm actually gonna make you cum, do you?"

Naruto was shocked from the sudden lack of pleasure, just before climax, "W-Wha?! Whaddya mean you weren't going to make me cum?! Like, at all?!" He asked.

Anko grinned and got off of him, placing her hands on her hips, "No, of course not. If I'm not getting off, I don't see why you should."

"Wh... That's totally not fair!"

"No, that is totally and completely fair!" Anko replied, "I'm on my period, meaning not only can I not get off in any sort of way for the time being, but I have to deal with other feminine issues like cramps, blood, and other shit. Also not to mention how you last had an orgasm with Ino less than a week ago, while I haven't had any action in Kami knows how long. So if you ask me, this is more of an issue to me than it is to you."

Naruto admitted to himself that she had a good point, "But... then why would you work me up like this?!" He demanded, a very noticeable tent in the sheets standing between his legs.

"Because I thought you would like it." She answered with a shrug, "Didn't it feel good?"

"Yeah, but what's the point if you wont let me finish?"

"Because I'm your girlfriend and I'm supposed to make you feel good. Would you rather me not touch you at all?"

"Not until you're actually willing to let me orgasm, because it's torture if you work me up and you wont let me finish!"

Anko raised her hands up defensively, "Okay, fine, no more touching till we can have sex. Just remember that you were the one who said it."

"Okay, I can deal with that." Mumbled Naruto.

"Good." She said, "Besides, it'll make that moment much more special when it finally happens, no?"

Naruto grinned at the constant grin on Anko's face, "Yeah, true."

Anko then looked up at the ceiling in thought, "Hm... I wonder where I put my handcuffs... And my spiked collar... My whip... Oh, and my butt plug..."

"Wh... H-Huh?!"

"Hm? Oh, nothing."

*the next day*

Beads of sweat flew off Naruto's bangs as he narrowly avoided his clone's attacks. He tried to find an opening for a counter-attack, but couldn't, due to the lack of use of his dominant hand and arm.

In the midst of his training, Naruto's clone suddenly dispersed. He looked around for the cause of it and found a shuriken lodged in a log a few feet away from him.

"Sorry about that." He heard a voice to his left. He looked over and saw a woman with blonde hair and an unusual outfit walking toward him, "My finger slipped."

"Your finger slipped?" Asked Naruto once she was in front of him, "Where exactly were you aiming?"

"At that log that I did manage to hit. Didn't mean to hit your clone though, I was hoping that it would curve around you both, but the shuriken here are a little heavier than the ones in Kumo."

It was then that Naruto noted the headband around her head, and it now made sense to him why her outfit seemed so unusual to him, "Oh, well you better be careful. That clone could've been me."

"I said I was sorry." She told him with a small smile, "I'm Yugito, by the way. Nii Yugito."

Yugito extended her right hand, but immediately drew it back and extended her left one when she saw his cast.

He shook her hand with his good arm, "I'm Naruto. Uzumaki Naruto."

"Ah," Yugito said, "So you're the nine-tailed jinchuuriki I've heard about. Fancy meeting you here."

Naruto narrowed his brow in confusion, "Er, how do you know that?"

She grinned a little, "Because I'm the Two-Tailed Demon Cat's host."

Naruto was a bit awestruck, meeting another Jinchuuriki. The only other Jinchuuriki he met was Gaara, and he's no longer a Jinchuuriki as of now.

"Ah, really?!" He then realized something, "Er, that's cool and all, but that doesn't really explain how you know I'm the Kyuubi's host..."

"Your Hokage told me." She said, "I'm kind of in hiding for the time being, since the Akatsuki attacked me and would have defeated me, had it not been for you Konoha-nin. So when I talked to the Hokage, she told me about you; how we both contain demons."

"Wait, the Akatsuki attacked you?" Yugito nodded, "Damn it, they just attacked my friend Gaara, the One-Tail's host like two weeks ago!"

"From what I've been told, they're trying to capture all the Jinchuuriki. Have you ever been attacked?"

"Yeah," he nodded, "But they couldn't get me, I'm too strong for them." He boasted proudly.

Yugito raised a brow, amused, "You're sound like you're very full of yourself, Naruto-san."

"Hehe, when you're as strong as me, you have a reason to be!"

Yugito tried not to scoff, "So how did you mess up your arm, if you're so strong?"

"Oh, I created my own jutsu and it kind of backfired and destroyed my arm."

This time Yugito did scoff, "Yeah, right."

"What do you mean?! I'm telling the truth!"

"Uh-huh." She mumbled sarcastically, "How old are you, like, sixteen?"

"Seventeen!"

She rolled her eyes, "Whatever. Do you know how long it takes to develop a new original ninjutsu? About half the time you've been alive. So I highly doubt you've been working on a jutsu since you were eight."

"It doesn't take that long to make a new ninjutsu!"

"For someone like you, it would."

"Excuse me?! I made my own ninjutsu in a few days, believe it!"

Yugito's facial expression was now as dead as can be, "...Okay, now I know you're completely full of it."

"Listen, lady!" He declared, pointing a finger at her, "I'm telling the truth here! What's so hard to believe about that?!"

"Everything." She answered with a smirk, sparking Naruto to give her an annoyed growl, "Listen kid, you're cute and all, but Jinchuuriki or not, I don't think it'd be possible for you to make your own jutsu, let alone in a couple of days."

"It is possible, because it happened already!"

"Really?" Yugito crossed her arms, "Then show me."

"I can't, since I'm kinda handicapped at the moment!"

"So have one of your clones do it."

Naruto paused, "Er, I can't..."

"And why not?"

"Because it's a forbidden S-ranked ninjutsu."

Yugito only stared at him, then fell out in fits of laughter.

"Goodbye, Naruto." She laughed, turning around and walking the other direction, "God, you are so full of it...!"

"Hey!" He exclaimed, "I'm telling the damn truth!"

"Hahaha!"

"Grr... You know what, I'll show you!"

Yugito turned her head, "Oh? Even though it's a 'forbidden S-ranked ninjutsu'?" She mocked.

Naruto formed his favorite hand seal, despite the cast still constricting his arm. Three clones poof into existence, and begin to form his newly created ninjutsu.

But before the primary rasengan could be formed, a barrage of kunai rain down upon the clones, poofing them out of existence, and barely missing Naruto himself.

"You just don't learn your lesson, do you?" Naruto heard a familiar voice say to him. Naruto gulped and slowly turned around to spot his girlfriend standing on a tree branch behind them.

"A-Ah... Anko-chan, uh... what brings you here...?"

Anko jumped down from the branch, walking up to the blonde, "I'm the one that gets to ask the questions here, Naruto." She said firmly, "Just what the hell do you think you were doing?"

He knew lying was far from a smart thing to do, "I was, um... showing Yugito here the new jutsu I created yesterday..."

Anko looked at Naruto, then Yugito, who was behind him. The first thing Anko noticed about her was her beauty. The second thing she noticed was her Kumogakure attire.

"And why in that simple-minded brain of yours would you think of doing that, knowing that you can be severely punished for making that jutsu, especially considering how it hasn't even been twenty-four hours since you were told to never perform it unless necessary?"

Naruto sweatdropped, "B-Because she wouldn't believe me! And I didnt think I would get caught, since I wasn't actually going to use it! I was just gonna show it to her!"

Anko shook her head, then looked at the woman behind him, "...Yugito, was it?" Yugito nods, "You're obviously from Kumo, correct?"

"Yeah."

Anko nodded, then looked back at Naruto, "Remember when I called you stupid? I take it back. Now I honestly believe that you're just completely brainless."

Yugito snickered, piling embarrassment onto his scolding, "Hey! Why are you calling me that?!"

"Because you don't think. I'd believe that you have a brain in that skull of yours if you actually used it. C'mon think, Naruto, she's from Kumo and she's walking around in our village. Meaning, that she's most likely under watch by ANBU. And if they catch you performing that jutsu, they won't hesitate to go straight to the Hokage. I'm sure something has been passed already regarding that jutsu being forbidden."

"..." Naruto had nothing to say.

"And besides, what do you care if she doesn't believe you? She's not even an ally. Not an enemy, but not particularly an ally." Anko narrowed her eyes, "So why would you try to prove yourself to her, Naruto-kun? Is there something I should know?"

Naruto quickly caught on to the tone of Anko's voiced as she asked that and began to defend himself, "N-No, of course not!"

Anko was still skeptical, but decided not to speak on it anymore, for now at least, "Anyway, don't be stupid, Naruto. When the Hokage says that jutsu is forbidden, you should really listen to her. That's coming from me, and I'm the rebellious type."

"Huh, so I guess you weren't completely lying." Yugito admitted to Naruto.

"I told you! I'm telling the truth about everything, you can ask my girlfriend!"

Yugito blinked, then looked around, "Er, okay, where is she?"

Naruto had fumes rushing out his nose, "Right here!" He pointed at Anko, "This is my girlfriend!"

Yugito looked at Naruto, then Anko, then back at Naruto.

"He ain't lyin'." Anko chided in.

"But... aren't you a little old-?"

A vein popped out Anko's forehead immediately.

"I'm only twenty-seven..."

Yugito rolled her eyes, "Relax hun, you didn't let me finish. I didn't mean that you're old, like, elderly old. Hell, you're younger than I am. I meant a bit old to be dating someone as young as him."

"Younger than you?" Anko repeated with a raised brow.

Yugito nodded, "I'm twenty-nine."

"Twenty-nine?!" Naruto exclaimed in shock, "No way!"

Even Anko was surprised, "Seriously? You look like you should be getting ready to start hitting your twenties, not your thirties."

Yugito smirked, "Yeah, I get that alot."

"Huh. What's your secret?"

"Now if I told you that, it wouldn't be much of a secret, now would it?" Yugito lightly taunted. "But you do realize that you have ten years over Naruto here, right?"

Anko crossed her arms, "Yes, I do. What's your point?"

The older Jinchuuriki shrugged, "Nothing, just feeding my curiosity. I mean, I can't say I blame you, the kid is a looker..." she said, giving Naruto a small smirk.

Anko had to remind herself of the consequences she may have to face if she didn't hold back her urges.

"Anywho, I guess I'd best get going, I'm getting kinda hungry. Nice meeting the two of you. Especially you, Naruto-kun."

Anko didn't fail to witness the subtle wink at Naruto and glance at her from Yugito before she turned around and started walking away.

"I tried." Anko said before walking aggressively toward Yugito. Naruto quickly caught on to the look she was giving her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to stop her from reaching Yugito.

"A-Anko-chan, don't! She's not worth it!" Naruto whispered to her as she fought against his grip.

"Let me go, Naruto! I'm just going to talk to her...!"

"Yeah, with your fists! Anko, please!"

All the while, Anko's glare never lifted off of Yugito, who was getting farther away from her line of vision. She walked away with a bit of a taunting sway to her hips, as if she knew Anko wasn't going to reach her. That easily ticked Anko off even more.

"I'll rip that damn ponytail out the back of her head! Then choke her with it!"

"And you can get in a lot of trouble for that!" He said, using almost all his strength, despite his damaged arm, to keep Anko at bay, "Kami Anko, you're stronger than you look...!"

"Naruto, if you don't let go of me, you'll be next!"

"I don't care, you'll start something big if you lay even one finger on her!"

Soon, after a few more seconds of struggling, Naruto let her go once both of them lost sight of the Two-Tails Jinchuuriki, "Whew, she finally left..."

"I can still track her down." Anko declared. Before Anko could take off, Naruto held her firmly by the wrist.

"Anko, seriously, stop. It's not worth it."

Anko turned to look at him, "You obviously saw her flirting with you, even after she found out that we're together. That's disrespectful on a whole 'nother level."

"I know, but-"

"I'll teach that bitch a thing or two... She clearly doesn't know who she's messing with."

"Anko-"

"She even looked at me after she winked at you! She thinks that just because she's from Kumo that I won't rip her teeth out and play shogi with them... Well, she can sure as hell think aga-"

Naruto did the only thing he could think of doing to shut Anko up, and crashed his lips against hers. He pulled her by the waist to bring their bodies closer.

Needless to say, Anko calmed down quite a bit once their tongues were involved.

"I... told you to stop doing that, didn't I?" Anko muttered, breathless.

"I had to calm you down somehow."

"Well, that sucks for you, then. I still wanna put that bitch in a headlock." Anko smirked and held up a hand before Naruto got a chance to say anything, "But relax. I'm not gonna go looking for her. I'll just have to take my frustrations out on you when the time arrises..." She said seductively.

Naruto blushed, "Something tells me that it might include a lot of pain on my end..."

"Oh, definitely. But you'll like it, I promise."

"Alright then..." Naruto mumbled a bit nervously, "Anyway, how did you know I was here? And why did you decide to come after me? I made some breakfast for you while you were still sleeping."

"And it was delicious, thanks." Said Anko, "But anyone who knows you would know that you'd be stubborn and try to train even though you should be resting. And I was just making sure you were okay and not doing anything too stupid. Looks like my assumptions were correct."

"Whatever. So what are you gonna do now?" He asked.

"Hey, I'm just looking out for you, babe. And I have some shit I have to do at T&I l, but that's not until later. What you should be doing is heading back home so you can rest. The more you rest, the faster your arm will heal."

"But staying at home is so boring! I gotta have something to do!"

"If you want something to do, you can go food shopping with me."

"That's boring, too!" He groaned, "I'd rather just stay here and train. It's not like I'm hurting myself; I'm just keeping my skills sharp."

"Until a blonde Kumo chick comes into the area, in which case you'll try to impress her by creating a jutsu that almost killed you." Anko shot back. "But okay, if you insist, go ahead and keep training. I'm not gonna stop you."

"Thanks, Anko." He said with a smile.

Anko gave him a soft punch to his chest, "Just don't kill yourself, baka."

*Later that evening*

"But... Shikamaru..."

"C'mon, Ino, we can't just let his death be in vain." Shikamaru told his friend, "I know you're scared, considering everything that's happened. But Choji and I will protect you, right Choji?"

Choji nodded, "Of course."

"I'm really not sure about this, guys..." Sighed Ino, "I just don't want to get hurt. I don't want anyone getting hurt. I do want to avenge Asuma-sensei, but... I just don't think we should take that risk."

"But no one will get hurt, Ino. We know how those two Akatsuki guys fight now, for the most part, and I've devised a plan to defeat them both. But we need you in order for it to happen."

"Shikamaru... No. As much as I want to avenge Asuma and kill those bastards, I don't think I'm physically or mentally ready to do something like that."

"But I said that we wouldn't let anything happen to you. Don't you trust us?" The Nara questioned.

Ino sighed again, "It's not that I don't trust you both, because I trust you two more than anyone else, other than my father. It's just that you can't promise anything like that, Shika. Something can happen to me. To any of us. It's not guaranteed, but there is that chance, and I don't want to take it. Besides, I already said I'm not ready. Too much has happened in the past week for me to even try to do something like that. And I don't think any of us should. We'll avenge Asuma-sensei sooner or later, but I doubt sneaking out to try and kill them would be a good idea."

Shikamaru gave her a soft look, "But, Ino-"

"Shikamaru." Choji spoke, "Don't try to pressure her into it. If she says no and insists that she's not ready, we have to respect that."

Shikamaru paused, then took a deep breath, "...I guess you're right. I apologize, Ino-chan."

Ino nodded, "Apology accepted. But you're still giving me this weird feeling in my stomach, so I'll have to ask you to promise me not to sneak out and try to avenge Asuma without me."

"B-But...!"

"Shika." Ino took a seat on her bed, "If something were to happen to you or Choji, I... I just don't think I'd be able to handle something like that, on top of everything else."

"But nothing will happen to-"

"Promise me, Shika." She told him, looking right in his eyes. "Promise me that you wont risk your life like that."

Shikamaru glanced at Choji, who gave him a cautious look.

He looked back at Ino and sighed, "...I can't promise that."

"You're unbelievable, Shikamaru." Ino growled, looking away from him. "Why is it that you can't wait until we at least get approval to go and pick a fight with those two Akatsuki guys? Not only do you risk your life by trying to kill two people we couldn't kill earlier, even with the help of three other people, but Tsunade wont react positively if she finds out that you snuck out without her permission. You both can get in serious trouble for that, Shika, and you know it." Ino looked at Choji, "Choji, please talk to him."

Choji put a hand on Shikamaru's shoulder, "Maybe she's right. We don't wanna be brash and reckless about something like that..."

"So I'll talk to the Hokage about it, then." Shikamaru stated.

"You know she won't approve." Ino crossed her arms, "And neither do I."

Shikamaru rubbed his temples, "Ino... we have to do this. We can't just let Asuma die in vain."

"He didn't die in vain, Shikamaru. He died protecting and fighting beside us." She said, "Don't get me wrong, I do want to avenge Asuma. But... I feel as though we wont have much of a chance if we just tried to go on our own, while sneaking out. There's a lot of negative things that can happen, and I'd rather not risk having any of them happen."

"But I'm sure we can do it this time." Shikamaru told her, "We lost the fight last time because we didn't know what they're capable of."

"And we still don't." Ino said, "We're dealing with someone who's literally immortal, and we still don't know a lot about the other guy. They're strong, Shika, and I don't want you and Choji facing them alone."

"So come with us." He offered.

"I already said no." Was her reply.

"...Choji and I are still gonna try to avenge our sensei, with or without you, Ino." He stated, walking toward her door. "C'mon, Choji."

Ino stood up, "No, you're not."

"Yes, I am."

Ino clenched her fists, "Asuma told me to watch over the both of you before he died. To make sure that you both don't get into trouble. And I'm not gonna let him down..."

Shikamaru tried tuning her out and grabbed the doorknob. But his disdain was rewarded with a kunai zipping past his shoulder, into the door in front of him.

"...even if I have to force the both of you to listen to me." She stated strongly.

Shikamaru turned his head slightly, "Ino, you don't want to do this."

"If it stops you from getting killed, then I do." Her glare softened a bit, "I don't want to have to hurt you, Shikamaru. We don't have to fight."

"You're right. We don't. But if you're that set on stopping me, then I guess we do."

Shikamaru turned around, facing Ino.

"Guys, come on, let's just... think this through for a bit..." Choji tried protesting, standing right in the middle of them.

Ino got into a ready stance.

And so did Shikamaru.

"Okay, I think this is the part where I have to intervene." All three teens heard from Ino's window. Everyone turned their heads to see Kakashi entering the room through said window.

"Kakashi-sensei...?" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, "Why are you here?"

"I think a better question would be why the hell are you spying on us through my bedroom window?" Ino questioned, not hiding the suspicion in her voice.

"I was sitting out on the rooftops, reading. Then I saw the three of you here through her window." He answered, "So I decided to see what's up because I could tell that the conversation wasn't a friendly one."

"With all due respect, Kakashi-sensei..." Ino grumbled, "It seems very suspicious, and a little creepy, how you were spying on us through my bedroom window, at such a late time at night..."

"And you said you were on the rooftops, 'reading'?" Choji added, "Who just sits outside on the roof, reading past midnight?"

"I do." He said simply, "I enjoy the night time air, and I enjoy reading, sue me. But I wasn't doing anything creepy or perverted, I'm telling the truth." He looked at Ino, "I promise."

"...Okay." Ino mumbled.

"Either way," Shikamaru said, "This doesn't concern you, Kakashi-sensei. It would be best if you minded your own business."

"Now that Asuma is gone, you guys are my business." Kakashi told them, "Asuma was a good friend of mine. And he told me, if something were to happen to him, he wants me to keep an eye on you three. And that's just what I'm doing."

Shikamaru didn't respond for a second, "...How long were you listening to our conversation?"

"Long enough to know that you and Choji want to go out and avenge your sensei."

Shikamaru sighed.

"Listen, Ino is right. You try to sneak out of here without approval, you will be facing some serious punishment, possibly even get executed when or if you come back. And going to fight two S-ranked criminals with just Choji as your backup is just unethical, and you know that, Shikamaru."

"But what else are we supposed to do?" He asked, frustrated, "I don't want Asuma to die without at least getting vengeance for him."

"I understand, Shikamaru, I really do. But what you want to do is so reckless, not even Naruto or Kiba would try it. And God forbid something happens to you or Choji. I don't think you would want to put Ino through that kind of pain. At least not again."

Shikamaru's shoulders slumped, as he took a seat on Ino's bed.

"But I don't want to just sit here doing nothing..."

"We'll avenge Asuma soon. Just not now." He promised.

"Wait, 'we'?" Shikamaru asked.

Kakashi nodded, "We can talk to the Hokage tomorrow about getting a mission put out, with me as the temporary leader of Squad Ten. She'll never accept such a proposal if it was just you and Choji, but with me tagging along, we have a shot."

While Shikamaru and Choji began to grin, Ino's mouth gaped in shock, "Kakashi-sensei, are you serious?!" She demanded, "I thought you said I was right?!"

"And you are. Shikamaru and Choji shouldn't sneak out and try to fight them on their own. But if I tag along with them, they have a better chance. I'm sure that if we work together, we can be successful at taking those two Akatsuki members out."

"Ugh." Ino groaned, "I thought you were on my side..."

Kakashi smiled, "I am. If Shikamaru is anything like his father, then I know he'll drive himself crazy if he doesn't go through with avenging Asuma, due to the way his mind works. So if I tag along, along with someone else perhaps, then he can successfully get his vengeance, and none of us will be hurt."

Ino frowned, "You all are still risking your lives though... Something can happen to you all if you go out there."

"We all risk our lives everyday, Ino." Shikamaru replied, "That's a big part of what being a shinobi is about. We risk our lives for the sake of the village."

"But you're not risking your life for the sake of the village right now. You're risking your life for vengeance."

"Either way," Shikamaru said after a sigh, "I risk my life going out for vengeance just as much as I risk my life on a mission. I have to do this Ino." He put a hand on her shoulder, "I hope you're not upset with me."

"... No, I'm not. I understand, Shikamaru." She murmured, "But if everything goes to hell while you're out there... I'll never forgive myself knowing that I was here, unable to help." She looked at her teammates straight in the eyes, "That's why I'm coming along, too."

"Really?" Shikamaru said, shocked.

"Y-You don't have to if you don't want to, Ino-chan..." Choji sputtered.

"Yes, I do." She admitted, "We're Team 10. Ino-Shika-Cho. My name is in the front for a reason." She grinned, "So we're gonna do this together. I gotta watch over you pinheads, even if it's the last thing I do."

All Shikamaru and Choji could do was grin.

Kakashi grinned as well, "So it's settled then. Tomorrow we'll meet at the Hokage tower. Hopefully the Hokage will allow it."