Shikamaru glanced at the clock on the wall in the Ichiraku's. Nineteen minutes since. 60 seconds. Fifty-nine, fifty-eight-fifty-seven… "Hey, here's the money. Thanks for the ramen, sir." Shikamaru stood up. Fifty, forty-nine, forty-eight… He pushed in the chair and sighed. Another mission. They seemed nonstop lately. Forty-two, forty-one, forty… He turned around and walked outside the store, then across the way to the building in the shade. Thirty-three, thirty-two… Asumite was always precisely on time, to the second. She also managed not to come in panting. The other two were usually with her when they were informed by Asumite. On their own, though, they were prone to be late. Twenty, nineteen, eighteen… Casually, Shikamaru reached back and opened his kunai holder. Generally, the trio were troublesome enough to plan some sort of surprise attack whenever he ended up waiting. Ten, nine, eight… He picked one that he knew was crafted of chakra-conducting metal, like Asuma's chakra blades. Three, two, one…Time seemed to slow down, and he knew that this was an effect of Asumite's attempt at putting him under a genjutsu. Zero!

Immediately, he put his hands together, gathered chakra, and dispersed the genjutsu. He did this fast enough to get a glimpse of Kushina charging at him from the front, Asumite on his right, and Sakate on his left. He gathered chkra in his feet and jumped. Above him, he knew, was a small ledge that he could stand on, but nobody else. He caught it, then pushed off from the wall, heading toward the Hokage's building. He knew without doubt that they would follow them to it, oblivious to surroundings, unless for some incredible reason, their teachers had taught them to pay attention to surroundings. He'd tried, but they never did.

He was right. They followed him like bugs and light. Heh. Shino would have liked that one.

In no time, they were outside the Hokage's building, the genins and chuunin-to-be panting. He smirked. They'd never learn. "You kids are so oblivious. Did you notice we're already at the Hokage's office? Didn't think so. You guys need to stop trying to ambush me, you'll never manage it. And how are you going to be good in your mission if you're tired out?"

"Sorry, sensei." It was Sakate, Haruno Sakura and Sai's son. He was really the quiet one, but he was skilled in medical jutsus and still in reconnaissance. He also had incredible taijutsu power, as well. He wasn't able to make it past the preliminaries for the third test in the Chuunin Exams. But he did do well. He was Asumite's backup in any argument she appeared to be losing, and observed things the most.

"Me, too, sensei. I wasn't thinking. It was Asumite's idea!" Kushina giggled and jabbed her thumb at Asumite. Uzumaki Kushina barely made it past any exams; she seemed to have the same philosophy as Naruto about studying: Avoid it whenever possible, follow your Ninja Way and it'll take you wherever you need to go. She was Asumite's best friend. She and Sakate had only made it this far on luck, they were younger than Asumite, true, but just as smart. All three had done I.Q. tests in the form of games and gotten similar scores: about 180s to 190s. He now realized that Asuma had done the same to him, and he couldn't help being amused by it. A tricky man, pity he hadn't done more tricks on him.

Asumite was grinning. "I'll catch you in one, one of these days, I promise! You won't evade me forever, Shikamaru-sensei!" She laughed, then danced her way over to the stairs. "Come on, are we getting our mission or what?"

It didn't take a genius to know that Asumite had been talking about genjutsus, but nevertheless, he said, "I have no clue what you're talking about, you little troublemaker." He smiled, then leaned down and ruffled Asumite's hair. He turned around to look at Sakate and Kushina, to see them laughing quietly at the pair. "And you two! Don't get me started! Just because her idea sounds great, it doesn't mean it really is! Don't be dragged into them all the time, or you might just end up tied to the trees-or worse."

Their snorts of laughter died out almost instantly. "Okay, sorry, sensei." They choroused.

They didn't listen. Little troublemaking genins. "Okay!Ready?"

"Ready!"

"Yeah!"

"Let's go already!"

"GO!" He shouted, then ran up the stairs. That'll teach them to run out of chakra.

Just as he thought it, Sakate passed him. "I'm not out of chakra, sensei!"

Damn. Sakate, himself, Asamite, and Kushina, in order, reached Naruto's office.

"You four are so slow. I would have been here ten minutes ago. But that's me. Shikamaru wanted a nap, huh?" Naruto's joking voice carried out the door into the hall. "Come on in, slowpokes!"

Damn that Naruto. So cocky. "Yeah, no. I had food. Got an issue? I had Ichiraku's without you. Jealous? I think so. What mission is taking up my time today?"

"Ha-ha. Funny. Actually, it's a higher rank mission. Lost, stranded, identityless people have been appearing all over the Land of Fire. Mostly girls. Most are dead. One or two still live, but rarely for more than a month after we find them. I thought that you'd rather just have to be looking for living people rather than fighting, lazy as you are." He paused, as if debating whether to say something or not. His face suddenly took on a look of resolution. "Most have Kekkei Genkai."

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes. Kushina widened hers in shock, and Asumite and Sakate cocked their heads in confusion. Shikamaru knew they were about to ask, so he held up his hand as a warning. They saw, and nodded. "Like what kind of Kekkei Genkai?"

"Some less common ones, and a few powerful ones. A Sharingan, a Byakugan, a Mind Transfer…And a Shadow Bind."

Shikamaru was shocked. "Damn straight I want this mission."

Naruto nodded. "I thought so."

"When do you want us to leave?"

"Get your stuff together, and be ready to leave as soon as we hear word of another site that they're there."

"Okay." A Shadow Bind kekkei genkai…How is that possible? And a Sharingan? Even the Byakugan. That takes a lot to get a head branch member.

"You're dismissed, but I want to talk to you, Shikamaru."

Shikamaru nodded. Sakate and Asumite nodded and turned to go, but Kushina waited. Naruto glanced at her for a moment, and nodded. Seeming satisfied, she turned around, and then paused. She reached into her pocket, then took her hand out and placed a small envelope on his desk. He smiled. Then Kushina dashed out of the room to catch up with her friends.

Shikamaru relaxed. "What a drag. Do you know how the people got the kekkei genkai, anyways?"

"No. We don't know. And it concerns me. Hinata says that no Hyuugas have disappeared lately, let alone head family members. The Uchihas…Sasuke's the only one we don't know about. Madara and Itachi are dead, at the hands of Sasuke himself. We presume he's alive. The Yamanakas say it's impossible to copy their precise technique. But that's what it is. It's an A-rank recon and recovery mission. Information is vital, too. If you get any Jane Does, you must bring them here as soon as possible. And any major kekkei genkais you find, like Byakugan, Sharingan, Mind Transfer, or Shadow Bind, bring them too. We must assume that a force more powerful than an entire village is the one doing this, and is a very high danger."

"Got it. Anything else?"

"No, and you should probably get home and pack. I have a feeling it won't be long. Get your chakra back."

Shikamaru found himself looking away. "I hate the fact you can tell how much chakra we have."

Naruto laughed. "Me, too. I knew when Kekkashi was dead in the Pein attack. And then he came back. That was so confusing."

"I could never imagine."

"No kidding."

Shikamaru turned and left without another word. He really wasn't sure where he was going, but he soon found himself in the Sarutobi Clan's cemetery, at Asuma's grave. He pulled out the lighter. It wasn't silver anymore. It was rubbing off, and was now a dull gray. He lit a cigarette, like he had so many times since Asuma died, and placed it on his grave. He noted the poppies on the grave. Comfort, he thought, is nice to have. I wish I had a bit more hope and comfort. Asuma, what's going on? Kekkei genkai showing up on people not of their respective clans…None missing from the clans…Even a Shadow Bind technique…Do you know?