A/N: Wow, I had a vicious combo of sucky semester and writer's block, but I'm back! I hope at least a couple people who were my dedicated readers stuck around!

Also some new really great writers have shown up on the site, Yay! ? ^ o ^ ?

Can't promise a quick end to this story, but the goal is five more chappies before end of break.

Luv, BN

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Chapter 7 - Flesh Wound

"Ouch! sss eh, teh, teh, teh... "

"Please don't be difficult Shikamaru-kun," said Hinata in as terse a tone as she could muster.

Shikamaru settled down as she continued treatment and could only sigh in disgust for a reply. He had badly bruised the ribs on his left side when the sound-nins had launched that earth attack from underneath them. Leaning back against the offending piece of rubble he'd flown into, he tried to be a good patient for his medical ninja.

"I had been so focused on Kabuto...," he thought, "It was such a genin mistake. Very Stupid." He was not used to making stupid mistakes. Mistakes meant failed missions and failed missions usually meant dead teammates.

"All done!" declared Hinata as she got up.

Her face shed its look of concentration and was replaced with a pleased smile. Hinata was a perfectionist when it came to her medical skills. Given her mentors were Shizune-sama and Tsunade-sama she had some high expectations to uphold.

Shikamaru stood slowly and wandered over to the pit where Tenten and Sakura were to see how they were doing with their find.

"It can't be touched." Sakura said crossing her arms in a reflex of frustration.

Tenten rose from where she was crouched. "And we can't use a rope either... catches fire in seconds."

Shikamaru rubbed his chin. "Things that don't burn?" he volunteered.

Sakura shook her head while Tenten explained. "We tried lifting it with the flat sides of our kunai, but the metal got too hot before we could even get out of the hole. It's like it doesn't want to be moved."

The solution came to him immediately, but he wasn't sure what the consequences would be. Either way they had to get moving soon. Kabuto and his shinobi should have been showing up to counter-attack any minute now.

"I'm going to use Kage Intoku no jutsu, " he told them and seeing their concerned looks immediately added, "We haven't got any other ideas and we can't afford to waste time."

The Kage Intoku, or Concealing Shadow, was one of the last family jutsu his father had taught him. It gave the user the ability to absorb and carry objects within their shadow, completely hiding it from detection. The limitation was that the weight of the object would be added to your own. It felt almost like your bones got heavier. In fact, his father once made him take an eighty-kilo stone on as a training device. Shikamaru had planned to get even with him for that one. He was also pretty sure if you absorbed something too heavy your body would be crushed instantly.

Warily he jumped into the pit and formed the In(seal), molding his chakra to the jutsu. He watched his shadow stretch under the glowing scroll and thicken as the object slid into its depths. His shadow shrunk back to size as he released the seal. Leaping back out of the hole the women all examined him questioningly.

"Light as a feather," he told them with a reassuring nod. He took one step when his legs gave way. Hinata rushed to his side, but he was up quickly waving her off.

"Hinata, I'm fine. Just got dizzy for a sec, probably the knock from before. Anyway, let's get out of here, I've had it with this place!" He checked his gear briefly before giving sign to move out.

They were out of Nagayama by early evening and the full moon lit their swift path along the treetops of western Konoha. Shikamaru felt incredibly thirsty and was about to whistle for a water break when he realized that the branches we smacking him in the face in mid-freefall. Their sting was nothing to him as he passed from conscientiousness.

"What? Where?"

Hinata's strained face swam above him. "Shikamaru, you're burning up with fever, you need to release the scroll now."

"I must be lying down," he thought.

Shikamaru tried to focus on Hinata's face as he spoke to her. "No... too risky... we need to get back..."

His eyes began to lose focus as heard the sounds of other female voices. He was sure he knew them from somewhere, but couldn't catch what they were saying.

"I can keep going just..." and with that he slipped away again into the blackness.

----

Shikamaru woke up on a couch in the Hokage's office. His head felt so heavy and he needed a drink so badly. "Water." he croaked. Tsunade was there beside him, her hand firmly cradling his head as she pressed a cup to his lips. He swallowed hurriedly causing fit of choking.

"Shikamaru," said Tsunade in a commanding voice. "I need you to release the scroll now! You must end your jutsu." Obeying her he brought his trembling hands together and breathed out "kai" to release the scroll. His slid back into sleep as a wonderful coolness suffused his body.

It was on that same couch in the Hokage's office he found himself again when he awoke. The sunlight from the window played crossed his face and he sat up to see more clearly.

"Ohaiyo, squad leader!"

Shikamaru squinted to see Tenten lounging in on a windowsill near the door. She was the only other person in the room. He looked down and immediately noticed the large blackened spot on the Hokage's floor.

"Yeah," Tenten began, "Tsunade-sama had to move the scroll right after you released it. We told her it would burn anything, but I don't think even she was ready for it. She was worried about you too."

He nodded. What he had done was pretty reckless and very unlike him. "That's what I get for trying to make-up for my Kabuto blunder," he thought to himself soberly.

"What time is it?" he asked.

Tenten grabbed a teapot and cup from the desk and brought it over to him. "Shouldn't you be asking me what day it is?"

She fell into a chair next to his makeshift bed. "The tea's only about an hour old, but you my dear have been out for two and a half days since you fell out of that tree."

Shikamaru poured for himself and asked, "Two days, how'd I get here then?"

Tenten picked up her arm and flexed a muscle. "Hey, I'm one cute package, but I'm built tough!" She grinned. "We all took turns carrying you. Your getting too skinny by the way, you should eat more."

He sighed at the comment and brought the cup to his lips. Shikamaru's hands froze midair and he emitted a groan. Eating made him think of...

He sputtered, "Ino?!"

"... was told, " finished Tenten, "you were still on a mission for Tsunade- sama, very top secret."

There was a brief knock and they turned to see the Hokage entering her office. "There's my top strategist," Tsunade exclaimed. "How's the patient?"

The weapons kunoichi stood and replied, "He looks okay to me." She ruffled his head of loose hair and strolled toward the exit. "Catch ya later, Shikamaru-kun."

Tsunade went to sit at her desk and they waited to speak until the door shut behind Tenten.

Shikamaru had found the leather string he used as a hair tie on an end table and gathering up his hair with both hands he began speaking with it in his mouth.

"So, what is it?" he mumbled through clenched teeth.

Tsunade spread her hands. "I was hoping you could tell me," she said. "We know it's a summoning contract of some sort and probably something with an affinity toward Fire but that's it. I've had a number of Jounin up to look at it, even brought elder Koharu in here to see it. No one can touch it though."

The Hokage smiled wryly. "Right now, I have it in the next room on a metal scroll stand in a tub of water to absorb the heat. It gets a little steamy, but I just keep adding more water every couple hours. Bet I could make a fortune in the portable hot springs business."

"Can it be opened then?" he asked.

"Oh yes," Tsunade assured him, "I'm just not sure if we have anyone strong enough in the elemental nature it represents."

Shikamaru wasn't sure he believed what she was saying. "Hokage-sama, you mean to tell me that the Leaf doesn't have a ninja strong enough in Fire?" It sounded almost too ridiculous to say.

She stood, looking very tired suddenly, and walked over to the window. "You might not believe this Shikamaru-kun, but that could be true. Being Fire Country we have more powerful fire techniques and a greater number of that jutsu-type than any other shinobi country. However, true strength in any single element is rare."

"That's why we were so excited by Hinata," she continued. "Her talent in Wood-type jutsu, even at a middling level is exceptional. Elemental strength can't be bred like an advanced bloodline and it's hard to predict who will have what abilities. There are patterns though. In fact, Sakura just wrote a wonderful paper on the natural equilibrium in..."

As she spoke the Hokage turned to see Shikamaru dozing away peacefully. Feeling her left eye start to twitch uncontrollably she screeched, "Shikamaru! Are you listening?"

The shadow ninja tumbled off the couch along with his pillows and blanket.

"Huh? yeah sure, umm. fire bad, tree pretty, right?" he blurted out.

Tsunade could only shake her head ruefully. "Go home and get some rest, you are still not one hundred percent."

He nodded his head in absent agreement and Tsunade softened as she watched him gather himself to leave.

"How's Ino-san doing?"

Shikamaru gave her a slightly sour look before replying. Women always seem to want to talk about his relationship. "She's well, enjoying her classes, organizing for the festival, finding homes for small kittens... You know her, she's like some goodwill juggernaut."

Tsunade laughed at his view. "Well today she's returning from an overnight field trip with her class and won't be back till this evening. So, you have the day to rest up."

He was about to turn and leave when it all clicked together. "How did you know she was on a field trip?"

Tsunade's eyes widened in false innocence. "Oh! I just had Iruka-sensei give her the assignment when you got back."

"I see," he said, giving her a slanted look.

The Hokage dissembled. "Sakura's a horrible liar, Shikamaru-kun. Once Ino got a hold of her it would've been over, then I'd have had her camped in here everyday with you lying there like a sack of azuki beans, asking over and over about why I wasn't doing anything."

Tsunade agreed with his former comment, "Like you said, a juggernaut."

Shikamaru felt his bed calling him urgently and he stumbled out of the door.

The fifth Hokage sighed slightly as he departed. She really needed to keep her fondness for her younger charges in check. Many of them including the young man who just left would not see middle years due to their profession. If another major war was to come upon the Leaf, they could lose a whole generation again.

She was pleased to sense the arrival of her next guest as these worries circled in her mind.

"You're late as usual Kakashi," she said.

In response a puff of nin-smoke appeared in the middle of the room follow by the unabashed nin. "My apologies Hokage-sama, I was passing through Tanza when some young women ask me to dance fo them."

Tsunade ignored his antics and waited to hear his report. If things up north were as bad as she thought she would be making those tough choices all too soon.

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To Be Continued.