Friends Gathered

Naruto and Lee ran towards their destination. The smell of the barbecue became more and more pronounced, as they got closer to the building. They walked into the building, scanned their eyes around until they found their friends, and then walked over to them. With a smile Naruto sat down beside Shikamaru and said, "Hey there buddy. What's going on?"
"Um, nothing much," Shikamaru said. "Just eating with Choji."

"And how about you, Choji?" Lee asked.

"Huh?" Choji looked at the ninja beside him. "I think Shikamaru already answered that."

"Of course," Lee said. "But how are you doing?"

"I'm fine," Choji said.

"What's going on here?" Shikamaru asked. "Are you two feeling okay? You seem a bit…odd."

"Oh, we're just fine," Naruto said.

"Yes, yes," Lee said with several nods of his head. "We are fine indeed."

"Uh huh." Shikamaru exchanged confused looks with Choji. He looked down at the grill on the table and placed another piece of meat on it. The meat sizzled and filled the air with its delicious aroma. "That's nice."

"Actually," Naruto said. "There is something we could use your help on."

"And what's that?" Choji asked.

"We're going on a little mission to gather up all of the coffee in the world," Naruto said.

Shikamaru and Choji looked at their blonde haired friend in disbelief before laughing out loud.

"Gathering up all the coffee!" Choji said. "That's hilarious!"

"Where did that come from?" Shikamaru asked after composing himself. "Even if it was possible we're not going to do it. It's a pointless waste of time. If you want coffee then just go buy some at the store."

"That won't do," Naruto said. He lifted his hand. The glow appeared back around it.

"What the heck is that?!" Choji asked.

"What's going on, Naruto?" Shikamaru asked.

"You're coming with me," Naruto said. The glow flowed out from his hand and into Shikamaru and Choji's mouths. The eyes of his two targets glazed over, their bodies went limp. "Good you are now under my control. Now let's finish up this delicious meat and get out of here."

"Yes, Naruto," Choji and Shikamaru said. They all dug into the meat that was left and then left the building.

"Where are we going to now, Naruto?" Lee asked.

"Let's pick up their last member of their team," Naruto said.

"Ino will be at her family's flower shop," Choji said.

Naruto nodded then led the way to the shop. They stepped inside to find Ino humming to herself and arranging some flowers in a vase.

"Oh," Ino said when she saw her friends. "I didn't know you were there. What's up, guys?"
"We need you for a mission," Naruto said.

"Really?" Ino asked. "I didn't know we were going on a mission."

"Oh, yes." Naruto held up his hand. The glow appeared again and flowed over to her. "It's a mission to get coffee."

"What the heck is going on?" Ino demanded.

"It's all right, Ino," Shikamaru said. "Just take the glow. Naruto knows what he's doing."

"You're crazy!" Ino ran out from behind the counter but was cut off by Lee. "Get out of the way, Lee."

"You cannot escape from us," Lee said.

"You will come," Shikamaru said.

"Yes, you will," Naruto said.

"What's going on?!" Ino asked against just before the glow entered into her mouth. Her eyes glazed over. "I'm here. Let's go."

"We need to gather the rest of our friends," Naruto said.

"Sakura is at the hospital," Ino said. "She should be walking home soon."

"Then let's go," Naruto said. He led them back out of the building and towards the hospital. Just as Ino said their pink haired friend was walking down the street from the hospital.

"Oh, hey guys," Sakura said when she saw them. "What's up?"

"We're going on a mission," Naruto said stepping up to his friend. He placed his hand on her shoulder and lean in close to her. When she looked at him his hand started glowing again. "And you're coming with us."

"I can't," Sakura said just before the glow entered into her mouth. "I'm going to…work with…okay, Naruto. I'm with you."

"Good," Naruto said. "Only four more to go then we can leave. Hinata and Neji should be at home. Let's go get them" He took the lead to the Huuga compound. "We're going to have to be stealthy on this one. Neji might notice before I can get control over him."

"Shall we distract him?" Sakura asked.

"Perhaps that would be best. Shikamaru can trap him with his shadows," Naruto said. They continued to run to the compound. Naruto jumped up to the roof of the building. He signaled them to go ahead and they stepped up to the door and knocked on it.

"What's going on?" Neji asked after opening the door.

"Neji, please come outside," Shikamaru said. "We have to talk to you."

Neji stepped off of the porch. "What's this about?"

"We need your help," Lee said. "Naruto needs coffee."

"What?" Neji asked.

"Now!" Naruto said. As he leaped off the porch Shikamaru attached his shadow to the gifted ninja.

"What's going on?!" Neji demanded.

"You'll know soon enough," Naruto said before taking Neji under his control. "Let's go. Kiba and Shino are next and then Tenten."

Like before Naruto lead his growing group of ninjas to the remaining three before leading them down to the docks of the village. They silently slipped through the night, going undetected by most. But even if they were seen no one stopped to question them. They were friends after all. And it was normal to see them together.

Naruto landed on the deck of a quiet ship. He laughed. "And now we are setting sail! My plan has begun!"

The glow surrounded Naruto's body. It spread out once more to his friends, engulfing them. The sails dropped. The wind picked up. The ship set out to sea without anyone touching it. Naruto's laugh grew louder and more manically as they sailed out farther and farther into the water. "The coffee will be mine!"