"OK," Naruto's brow furrowed in thought. He paced, as was his custom. "Ninjabots?"

Shino broke another egg on the rim of the frying pan. A ray of sun softly shone through the window, illuminating the bug-man's omelet-in-progress.

"I mean, yeah. Yeah!" Naruto stopped pacing to clear his throat. "Ninjabots, roll out!"

"No," replied Shino. He tossed some spinach into the pan.

Naruto scowled and resumed pacing. "Alright, alright... Oh, I know! Nin-vengers!"

Naruto had been trying to resolve the crisis of a name since eight o'clock that morning. At this time, it was ten, and Shino was dangerously close to breaking out his earbuds. He chose to at least make some breakfast for himself, utilizing what little Naruto had in his fridge; eggs, milk (with the expiration date suspiciously rubbed out), spinach (strangely fresh), and peppers. Naruto refused to rest despite his heavily-bandaged wounds, and paced the room in his boxer shorts. Shino had folded his own coat on the back of Naruto's recliner, revealing that he actually wore a black sleeveless top underneath the behemoth of cloth that usually obscured his form. Shino's hive remained diligently inside his body so as not to disturb their host.

"Nin-vengers, assemble!" Naruto cried, striking a heroic pose atop his couch. There he paused, savoring the moment, before falling backwards onto the sofa. "I like it," he said. "Has a ring to it. Assemble!"

Shino folded his omelet onto a plate. "Forks?"

"Third drawer on the right." Naruto replied, stroking his chin as he continued inwardly gloating at his own brilliance.

Shino rummaged through the drawer, looking for the seemingly cleanest fork before sitting himself down in the old recliner. Slowly, he cut through the egg with the side of his fork, and lifted the bite-sized morsel to his mouth. Yep, that milk was way gone.

The plan was simple. The Ninvengers would sneak into the local Ninja Circuit City at approximately zero-one-hundred hours, Standard Eastern Time. Shino would cloud the security cameras with swarms of bugs to imitate video static. Meanwhile, Shikamaru Nara would use his talent to transform shadows into physical forms to slip past and deactivate any laser defenses. Thus given necessary space, Chouji Akimichi would use his body-enlarging talent to stretch across the room and deliver the monitor of choice into Naruto's awaiting hands.

"Insects don't look like static," Shikamaru said, beginning to count the problems on his fingers. "It isn't a museum so the potential for laser security is nil, and even if there was, Chouji's role is pointless since we could just walk across anyway. And you don't do anything in the plan."

Chouji and Shikamaru leaned forward with eyes locked on their blond host, petitioning him for response. Naruto's eyes darted nervously the group of three that sat in his apartment.

"I- um, it..." Naruto pouted. "Alright, genius. What's your plan then, since you don't like mine."

Chouji was first to speak. "You could always get a-" Shino shook his head.

Shikamaru sighed. He leaned back into the raggy couch. "It's a drag you lost your monitor, man. But stealing just sounds too... bothersome. Too risky. Already got enough of a record 'round here."

Naruto scratched his head. "You don't hav-"

"Talkin' about you."

"Oh."

"You gonna finish that omelette, Shino?" Chouji inquired, having spied the eggy treat. Shino shook his head, and with a childish glee Chouji nicked the breakfast.

Naruto sat cross-legged on the hard floor. A near-silence enveloped the group, as the only sound in the tiny apartment was Chouji's digestion. Shino tapped his foot to a song in his head. Shikamaru stared blankly at the clouds out the window. Naruto scrunched his face in concentration. Chouji savored the fine peppers and spices Shino had added to his omelette.

Then, Shikamaru spoke. He spoke hesitantly, considering the weight of his words, or perhaps just wondering if he was about to get himself into yet another something that would end with the four of them sharing a jail cell for three hours. Though this time he doubted Shino and Chouji would be dressed in leiderhosen.

"What... what if we were to help you get enough cash to buy a monitor?"

Naruto's eyes lit up. Everyone in the room shifted a little, leaning forward into the circle.

"Whatcha thinkin', dude?" Chouji asked.

"Something awesome, I bet." Naruto grinned. "Money for Naruto is always a good plan."

"OK," Shikamaru said, stopping with his hands in front of his chest. He tried to form exactly what he would say next. "We could hold a little... carnival... thing."

"Carnival-thing?" came the collective, cynical response.

Shikamaru nodded. "Yeah. It- I know it sounds weird, bare with me here. We set up a couple boothes, do a couple tricks for money, con people until we get enough to get Naruto his monitor."

Collective eyebrows were raised.

"This sound really..." Naruto began. "like a drag." Shikmaru promptly flipped him the bird.

"I dunno guys," Chouji said as he rubbed his chin, the enthusiasm in his voice rising. "This sounds like it could be fun. I could totally do a bake sale."

"And it'd be a chance for me to get creative," Shikamaru agreed. "Shino?"

Shino shrugged.

"Ehh... doesn't sound... cool enough." Naruto said. "I mean, sounds kinda hackneyed, eh?"

"I didn't know you knew the word 'hackneyed,' man." Shikamaru smiled.

Naruto grumbled.

"Look," Shikamaru continued. "It'll get you your monitor, you get to have fun. It'll work, and hopefully this time it won't involve thirty foreign pizzas."

"Still paying delivery bills." Shino said.

Naruto rocked in place. "Ehhhh.... alright. Can I still call us the 'Ninvengers?'"