Author's Notes: Hello again, sorry for the brief hiatus, but Harry Potter demanded my immediate attention and who's to say I can resist? Gosh what a wonderful series, I would gush more about it but I refuse to spoil the book for anyone. Anyway, to those who reviewed: thank you so much! I've been a bit down lately so it's always nice logging on and reading what you have to say. This chapter is for jacksparrow589 by the way, your analysis is great to read! Everything is not as it seems in Konoha, but is Shikamaru going to figure it out in time? We'll see...

Disclaimer: If I had to choose between owning Harry Potter and owning Naruto I would choose the latter, but I don't think I should hold my breath for either.

Gather the Forces

"In a moment, everything can change. Feel the wind on your shoulders...can you hear it calling?" – 'Fly' by Hilary Duff

The meeting had already been in session for an hour by the time the sun rose over the mountains surrounding Konoha. Chairs ringed the perimeter of the Hokage's office, each occupied by a tense shinobi or kunoichi. The conversation volume rose and fell depending on the point being argued. At this moment a small wiry ANBU, crane mask firmly in place was disagreeing with Morino Ibiki.

"There's no reason to doubt the truth in the suggestion that Kumogakure is launching an invasion. Yamanaka and Aburame must have pretty well convinced if Inoichi would chance giving his daughter a time scale for the attack. That said, we've only got two days left, we have to act now!"

Several of his fellow ANBU voiced their agreement. An equal number seated nearer Hatake Kakashi remained uncommitted. There seemed no clear majority on any of topics they had discussed. Normally mellow shinobi were now extremely argumentative, the prospect of their own home coming under fire banishing any tendency for compromise or openness to discussion.

"I'm not arguing that Lightning Country isn't invading." Ibiki countered. "They're coming, there's no doubt in my mind. However, as Nara pointed out earlier, the motive Yamanaka suggested doesn't even begin to justify these methods. For that matter, how did Lightning Country, a nation with fairly low development capacity, come up with a weapon of this degree of finesse? As I'm sure you're all aware, the ability to produce a serum of this quality is only possessed by a handful of villages, and Kumogakure is not one of them."

This launched a whole new wave of discussion, which the ANBU had to shout over. "Even if you and Nara are right, the fact remains that we are two days from invasion and we don't have any good way to fight back! What are we supposed to do, wait to be poisoned? Quarantine the village and hope that someone survives his neighbors to fight off the Cloud nin?"

"That is not what I…"

"Enough!" Tsunade stood from her desk. Striding to the center of the room, she rotated, fixing each occupant with a gaze as considering as it was deadly. "I will not have this village fall apart from petty bickering. Not when that is exactly what our enemies are hoping will happen."

That shut them up. For them to play directly into Kumogakure's hands was unthinkable, Konoha pride wouldn't stand for it. Tapping long fingers to her temples, Tsunade restarted the conversation, hoping for a more measured discussion.

"Both of you are right." The ANBU and Ibiki both sat back, partially mollified. "What we are facing here is a threat that is very straightforward on the surface: Kumogakure is set to invade us in less than 48 hours with a weapon for which we have no effective counterattack. On the other hand, as Morino and Nara have pointed out, the motives for an attack of this size and risk are not clear. It's been mentioned Kumogakure may need our land and resources to counter the growth of Akatsuki, personally I don't agree with that line of reasoning."

"So what do you suggest?" Hyuuga Hiashi motioned to the assembled nin. "All of Konoha's resources are ready for mobilization." He paused, pale eyes picking apart the woman in front of him. "I assume you have a plan?"

She didn't, not concretely, but she wasn't about to let him know that. What Tsunade had going for her was her wealth of experience and her authority as Hokage. Unfortunately the power of paranoia and fear was often enough to trump common sense. When even the reticent Hyuuga leader began to snap, the rest of Konoha's population couldn't be far behind.

"Send out a small team to intercept the invasion force." Every eye in the room fixed itself on Nara Shikamaru where he slouched in his chair. "In a worst-case scenario they can gather information, determine the scale and threat of the attack, and report back to Konoha. If we're lucky though, they can destroy the serum before it's used and tilt the odds in our favor. If the team leaves by mid-day there's a chance a small task force can split off and make its way to Kumogakure to determine if there are larger powers at work, as we suspect."

Tsunade was amused and relieved, but let only the former emotion show. "Sounds like you've got it all figured out Nara. Have you decided who you want on your team?"

"Yes." He handed her a neatly printed list by way of Shizune. "I've spoken to several of them already, if you approve we can be ready for departure by noon."

The Hokage scanned the list before passing it around so the others in the room could read it. "The majority of the individuals you've requested are long-range attack specialists."

He nodded, watching as his list made its way around the room. "Considering the nature of the serum, those whose attacks are of a long-range nature will be considerably more protected against exposure to the hormones. Barring the possibility that the serum can be released into the air, which I doubt."

"As do I." Tsunade frowned, one painted nail coming to rest on her chin. "You've included two kunoichi whose attacks aren't long-range by nature, won't they pose a risk to the team?"

"I need Sakura for her medical skills." Shikamaru argued, "I refuse to do the mission without her, the risk would be too great."

"And the other?"

"She's necessary for the team I plan on sending to Kumogakure."

"Very well." The Hokage checked to make sure the list had made its way around the entire room. "Unless someone has an objection I will send out summons to those individuals listed." She made sure to catch Gaara of the Sand's eye in order to measure his feelings on the proposal.

Her effort failed, anyone attempting to read Gaara's emotions would be better served by flat-out asking him. Gaara's emotional responses were about as forthcoming as his smiles. He didn't seem to be upset with Nara's idea, Tsunade decided to take this as a good sign.

"They're all chuunin!" Protested the matriarch of the Inuzuka clan, her canine growled in agreement. "Tsunade, surely ANBU would be better."

"All the ANBU and jounin will be needed to protect Konoha." Shikamaru nodded towards his list. "If lack of seniority is what you're objecting to, Temari of the Sand is ranked jounin."

"I will vouch for Temari's ability." Gaara intoned. A few in the room had been unaware of his attendance up until this moment and jumped at his voice, startled. Despite his rumored reformation, the Kazekage still had that effect on people.

"You plan on taking Aburame Shino?" A dark-skinned nin asked. "Haven't his bugs already proven susceptible to the hormone serum?"

Shikamaru faced the man. "Shino assured me he'd fixed the problem. He's confident he can isolate and dispose of any bugs carrying the serum before they return to his body."

Once again those present in the room turned to their neighbors, debating the pros and cons of Shikamaru's proposal. Some were not happy with the idea of entrusting such an important mission to relatively untried youngsters, but what exactly, asked the others, did they suggest be done instead? The head of the Inuzuka stood abruptly, her dog following her out of the room. The departure prompted several new debates. Would the Inuzuka clan help Konoha in the upcoming battle? If not, what would Tsunade do about such blatant disloyalty?

Tsunade was unperturbed, she'd talk to Inuzuka later, the woman would come around. Waiting until the conversations died down around her, she nodded to Shikamaru, summoning him to her side. "Unless there are any other detractors, I will send out the summons to those on Nara's proposed team immediately."

"Why not include Uzumaki Naruto?" Asked a voice from the back. "His attacks aren't long-range, but the boy is powerful. He would be more useful on the team than to us waiting in Konoha."

"No." Shikamaru's head shook back and forth emphatically. "Naruto can't have anything to do with this team. In fact, I'd suggest sending him as far away from Konoha as possible. Quickly."

This was news even to Tsunade, an eyebrow raised, she asked what was on everyone else's mind.

"Why?"

"Because," It was not Shikamaru who answered the question, but Morino Ibiki, who stood and regarded them all dourly, his scars glowing eerily in the early morning light. "Nara and I agree that Uzumaki Naruto might be the whole reason Kumogakure is invading Konoha in the first place."

The room exploded into shouts.

"Where is it?!" Papers and scrolls flew every which way or, more accurately, were tossed to the far corners of the room as one frustrated kunoichi tore through the large bookcase standing against the wall. A large scroll which until now had been precariously balanced on a high shelf crashed down, landing directly on top of a sandal-clad foot.

"Ow!" Kicking the offending scroll aside, Ino cursed under her breath. She was sure she'd regret making this mess later, but at the moment time was of an essence. Scanning the dilapidated shelves yet again, a low curse was uttered. She knew the Atama Musubu scroll was in here somewhere, she'd seen her father reading it before, but where had he put it? A glance at the wall clock told her she had only three minutes left.

All would not be lost if she couldn't find the scroll, indeed, no one was even aware the technique existed apart from Yamanaka clan members and the people they used it on. So closely guarded was the jutsu that Inoichi hadn't even been aware the ancient method had been preserved until his own father had revealed the secret on his deathbed. However, Ino knew that Atama Musubu would come in handy for the rapidly approaching mission, the team would need all the help it they could get.

If only she could teach herself how to use it. .

Finally spotting the dusty green scroll in a far corner she grabbed it triumphantly. The initial joy in the discovery faded somewhat as she unrolled the parchment and scanned a few lines. Indeed, the look on her face could be more accurately described as trepidation.

Atama Musubu hadn't been hidden away for decades for just any reason.

The technique was used to trap others in their own minds, with a result that was similar to the effect of the sharingan, but free of the limits of time or chakra control. Atama Musubu ensnared victims in their own memories, as chosen by the Yamanaka in control of the jutsu. The only way to escape, aside from being released by your attacker, was to confront that with which you were bound. Since the Yamanakas had access to every humiliating, painful, and degrading thought housed in the mind, some people remained trapped indefinitely.

Those who succeeded in breaking the jutsu had varying reactions. The last known victim of the Atama Musubu had committed suicide months after his escape from what was known as the 'Yamanaka curse'. The skill was one of the most formidable developed by her family, originally intended for use in disciplining dissenters of the Yamanaka house, it had been adapted for the battle field, its relative ease of launch once shintenshin was deployed making it an effective weapon. Extremely powerful if performed correctly, it was not discovered until later that the Atama Musubu had a fairly significant drawback:

After repeated use of the jutsu, the user inevitably succumbed to madness.

Ino was not unaware of the hazards associated with the family technique, neither was she foolish enough to consider herself fully capable of controlling such a volatile jutsu. After much reflection however, she had concluded that desperate times called for desperate measures. She'd been more than surprised when Shikamaru had chosen her as one of the six on the team sent to intercept the invasion force and she'd be damned if she held anyone back.

Blue eyes roved hungrily over the faded characters preserved on the parchment. From all appearances, Atama Musubu would not be a major challenge to learn. To control it would be a battle, but launching the attack would be relatively simple. A bit caught up in her own bravado, Ino tossed the scroll from hand to hand, considering when and where it would be best to practice. She'd try to talk Sakura or Shikamaru into helping her. A fierce smile crossed the kunoichi's features and the scroll was jammed into the small, utilitarian backpack she carried.

Time to go.

The housetops of Konoha flashed by in a blur as the girl sprinted from roof to roof, her sandals touching down only briefly before she rose into what almost appeared to be flight. As her teachers had noted during her pre-genin days, Yamanaka Ino was undoubtedly the fastest of all the kunoichi in her year, quick on her feet and seemingly unhampered by the limiting factors of gravity. It was a useful attribute for a kunoichi and her prowess was duly noted. With her arms flung behind her, the wind whistling past her ears, Ino felt free, untroubled by the events of the past day. The sensation was glorious enough that she almost forgot just what she was rushing towards:

That which could arguably become the most dangerous battle of her entire career.

Nearing the front gates of Konoha, she smiled as she spotted the familiar profile of Shikamaru, his back towards her, arms folded as always. She'd hoped to arrive a bit early in order to show him the scroll and explain the new technique. With his smarts and her talent they might be able to devise a new way in which to tackle the situation. Atama Musubu was a trump card, one which not even her teammates were expecting. This made it all the more valuable, for it became an attack which their enemies had no chance of analyzing.

Which in turn meant that the Kumogakure nin had no premeditated way to counter such a move.

And if, simultaneously, it cast Ino in the spotlight currently enjoyed by that smug little sand kunoichi, so be it.

Not that this was her ultimate goal in digging up Atama Musubu. Definitely not.

Well….maybe a little.

Slowing to a stop on the overhang of a building bordering the entrance area to Konoha, Ino realized that Shikamaru was not as alone as she had originally guessed. He was, in fact, speaking in low tones to an individual hidden from her line of sight by the very overhang on which she perched. Straining to make out the conversation, Ino's eyebrows raised in surprise as she recognized the measured voice.

The person standing directly underneath her was none other than Hyuuga Neji.

Neji's name had not been one of the six on the list sent out by the Hokage, under normal circumstances this would be seen as not only a puzzling omission, but as a possible slight. You would be hard-pressed to find more well-rounded fighters than the members of the Hyuuga clan. Neji, a jounin and proven squad leader, was seen as one of the best shinobi to come out of Konoha in decades. Virtually unbeatable in a one-on-one battle, he had in recent years displayed uncanny leadership prowess, which was second only to that displayed by Nara Shikamaru.

It was, interestingly enough, just these qualities that had led Shikamaru to leave Hyuuga Neji off of his carefully chosen team.

"Neji isn't a long-range fighter." He'd explained to her the night before, having come into the guest room where she slept in order to rehash his list while she listened. "We can't risk anyone getting too close to carriers of the serum."

"Neji's defense is impenetrable." She'd argued past a yawn. "He wouldn't let anyone get near him."

"It's not impenetrable." Shikamaru had corrected, not bothering to elaborate. "It's failed him before."

Ino had been surprised by this. She knew, as everyone did, about the immense injuries inflicted on the boy during the attempt to retrieve Sasuke but had credited this to his relative inexperience at the time. From the way Shikamaru spoke about it though, the Hyyuga eyes might not be as infallible as they seemed.

"Even if it failed him…" she'd ventured, "I bet Neji has learned how to counter the problem. He's not a slacker like you after all."

Shikamaru had shaken his head, ignoring her pointed comment. "I won't risk it." He said finally, apparently satisfied with his decision to exclude the Hyuuga from his plans. "Including him would be too dangerous

This had prompted another yawn from Ino. "How so?"

Shikamaru had cocked his head slightly to one side, considering her with dark eyes that made her heart beat just that much faster. "Think about it Ino. If the Cloud nin managed to infect Neji with that serum, who among us would be able to stop him?"

That had effectively shut her up.

Now, Ino settled her weight more evenly on the tiles, leaning forward in time to catch the tail end of Neji's sentence.

"…be sure that all will return safely."

"I will do everything in my power to bring everyone home." Shikamaru replied, "They're all capable of completing this mission. That's why I chose them."

"There's a difference between being capable and being the only option."

Ino heard Shikamaru sigh, imagined him shifting his weight from one leg to the other. "I need Tenten on this team Neji, you know as well as I do that there is no one else in Konoha who has even half a chance of taking out that serum from a safe distance."

Ino suppressed a gasp. So this whole discussion was about Tenten? The revelation both surprised and amused her. On one hand, it was about time Neji got his head on straight regarding his female teammate. It had been common knowledge that she harbored a deep crush on him for years. The time had more than come for him to acknowledge that. However, Neji's attitude about his teammate participating in this mission more than irritated her. What was it about these pompous genius types that made them think that all the girls around them were incapable of taking care of themselves? Tenten was an amazing kunoichi, and though a little worry was perfectly healthy, Neji was crossing a line by meeting with her mission leader behind her back.

Ino was so wrapped up in her thoughts she almost didn't notice the silence that had fallen between the two boys she was spying on. She hadn't heard anything that suggested a successful compromise had been reached, so for them to have stopped talking meant…

"Would you rather I pulled you off the eaves, Yamanaka, or would you prefer coming down by yourself?"

Deciding the latter proposition was a far better choice, Ino leaped lightly to the ground, steeling herself not to blush under the accusing, colorless gaze of Hyuuga Neji.

"Ino, again?!" Shikamaru ran a hand over his ponytail in exasperation. "Is it even possible for you to get through a day without sticking your nose into other people's business?"

"Spying is a desirable ninja trait." Ino replied smugly, nonetheless edging away from Neji should he decide to bring a Gentle Fist into the conversation.

"Meddling is not." The Hyuuga genius' voice became, if anything, colder than usual. "You'd be well advised to keep what you heard to yourself."

"Oh, so Tenten has no right to know that you're attempting to jeopardize her career as a kunoichi?" Ino spat, not backing down in the least. "I think Tenten would be very interested to hear what I just did and trust me Hyuuga…you will be in some deep shit."

A rough hand landed on her shoulder, surprising Ino enough that she forgot what she had been about to say. "Ino won't say anything." Shikamaru assured Neji, shooting her a look that was a dangerous combination of anger and irritation. "You also have my promise that I will not put Tenten into any situation I am not confident she can handle. That's the best I can do."

"Very well." The two shinobi regarded each other for a moment and Ino felt as if perhaps some invisible pact had been laid down without her knowing it. "The Hyuuga clan will be in charge of arming Konoha." Neji told Shikamaru, "I will make sure that all eventualities are covered."

"Good, thank you." A curt nod and Neji was gone, vanished over the rooftops that Ino had so recently traversed. The two of them watched him go, Ino silently wondering how long it would take Shikamaru to reprimand her for her indiscretion.

It didn't take long.

"Ino, what were you thinking?" Shikamaru spun her around to face him, exasperation clearly written across his face. "Good lord, the last thing I need right now is for Hyuuga Neji to be angry about how I'm dealing with Tenten. She's essential to this mission! She's the lynchpin!"

"So even though you agree that she's the only one capable of carrying this off, you'd let him degrade her like that?" Ino asked, she resisted shrugging off his hand. Having it on her shoulder was nice, or would have been if he wasn't so mad at her.

"He's not degrading her Ino, Neji is just worried." Shikamaru frowned, staring in the direction the Hyuuga had taken. "It's not logical or even helpful, but I can't say I blame him, considering his situation."

"His situation? What, the fact that he's anal retentive?" Her anger abated somewhat at the solemn expression on her former teammate's face. "What is it?"

"Cloud nin from Kumogakure killed his father." Shikamaru told her. "I think that's just cause for a little extra paranoia."

Oops.

The embarrassment that swamped her was worse than the time she'd failed at seducing that horrid Elvis-wannabe. She knew that the Hyuuga clan had a lasting vendetta against nin from the Cloud village. So how had she been so boneheaded as to miss the connection? Of course Neji would be worried about sending Tenten into battle against Kumogakure. Even more so since he wouldn't be there himself to avenge what surely was the greatest wrong done to him or his clan in years.

And of course, she'd mucked up the whole thing by clambering in with all of her brilliant ranting.

Was it even possible to apologize to a Hyuuga, she wondered. Or did they prefer to inflict physical pain before forgiving you? After all this was over she may just find out, and either way it wouldn't be pretty.

"You're early." Shikamaru released her, stepping back to check the clock tower in the center of the village. "Is there a reason, or are you just determined to make me regret bringing you along?"

"No!" Ino procured the scroll from her backpack quickly, flourishing it in his face. "I wanted to show you this."

He took it from her, beginning to open it before she stopped him.

"Don't read it!" Her father would kill her if he awoke to find the family secrets had become common knowledge.

"So this is a new jutsu." Shikamaru muttered, "What does it do?"

"It's called Atama Musubu." She told him, watching interest come to life in his eyes as he deciphered the name. "And it might be just what we need to fight Kumogakure."

Far to the north, the door leading into a dark inner room banged open to admit an over-eager man, his eyes gleaming in triumph.

"It's just as you said, Kumogakure has made its move."

"Couldn't you have knocked first?" With an irritated huff, a female sitting on the lone chair rose, brushing invisible dust particles off of her clothing. "I don't think you could be more annoying if you tried."

"Oh shut up." The first speaker told her. "It's not as if I was interrupting anything, now was I?"

Before she could lambaste him for his insolence, the third figure in the room spoke. The tone of his voice revealed nothing of how he felt, "With Kumogakure beginning their offensive, Konoha will have mobilized."

"Sure enough." The boy flung himself on top of the old wooden desk, smirking at the girl. "Sent out a team around noon today, according to reports."

"And the Kyuubi?"

"That's where you were wrong." White teeth flashed in the darkness. "There's been no sign of him so far, it's almost as if the Leaf nin know to keep him under wraps."

"Impossible!" The girl sputtered. "They wouldn't be that far-sighted would they?"

The three of them pondered this for a moment, the first two shooting nervous glances at the third. Abruptly, he stood, and they mimicked his action.

"Nara has anticipated the move." Said the man who was obviously their leader, "We head for Konoha now."

"B..but the others, we're not ready!" Protested the girl, scrambling after him as he walked to the door. "We need more time!"

"There is no time, meet me at the village entrance in fifteen minutes."

"R…roger that." Watching him go, the girl whirled on the first boy, anger lighting up her eyes. "Couldn't you have waited? Would another ten minutes have been too much to ask?!"

"Just following orders." He shrugged, gathering his weapon from where it stood in the corner, he strode past her. "I would hurry up if I were you. Fifteen minutes and we leave without you, not that I would mind."

"Bastard!" She shouted after him, but heeded his advice and began dismantling the various stations set up in the room. "It's always Konoha isn't it?" She muttered, shuffling maps and papers into manageable piles. "I hope Kumogakure takes them down, it'd make my life easier." Grabbing the last of the valuable documents she scanned the room, nodded in satisfaction, and left to catch up with her teammates.