A/N: Wow, I'm so sorry for being off. I've been overly busy and hadn't realized I hadn't updated in months. I've had ideas and plans made out for the chapters, but I hadn't finished writing them. Deepest apologies.

Chapter Seven

The Return

Temari stood with Naruto as they discussed the basics of defense mechanics in case of an attack from the masked man. There was a word sent that one of the Ambu Black Op look outs ended up being murdered eight miles away from Konohagakure. Naruto had called in Temari, since she was closest to being an Advisor herself, since she was Gaara's bodyguard for a long time, along with being an ambassador to and from the different nations. Her combat skills were well praised, naming her one of the top best kunoichi after the war. Not to mention she was married to the worlds' smartest man who came from the best strategic clan. The Nara clan also holding the most secret ingredients to medicine.

"Temari?" Naruto's voice interrupted her daze.

She cleared her throat staring back at the papers Naruto was holding. "We should maybe enforce the perimeters of Konoha, by adding more than one Ambu on the watching posts. We should also inform all shinobi's to be on the lookout. I don't know if the Genin kids should really be going out passed the borders, so maybe all Jonin's should be cautious with their missions they pick."

Naruto looked back down at the maps he had displayed on his desk, thinking carefully to Temari's words. "That might work." He grew silent again and Temari noticed worry in his eyes.

"How's Boruto doing?" she asked.

Naruto looked back at her, his eyes seemed clouded, almost lost. "I - I think I lost him. He's wanting to be like Sasuke and I just don't know what to do anymore."

Temari snorted. "Spoiled brat doesn't know how to see the difference in the role you take as being the Hokage. Yes being the Hokage lets you be with your family less, but also he should consider that even if you send a clone, you still care and you still want to be there for them."

The door of Naruto's office slammed open. Standing there was a bleeding Sasuke Uchiha. His dark cloak was ripped, with his hair being tousled around in an unpleasant view, to where you could see his hidden Rinnegan. His face was bruised and scratched, along with his arm being completely drenched with blood.

Naruto immediately stood up in alarm. "Sasuke!"

"We underestimated our stay at that so called abandoned base," Sasuke wheezed. "We were ambushed."

"Even if you were ambushed, you still wouldn't be this beaten up Sasuke," Naruto narrowed his eyes in deep concentration. "Who are these people?"

"They call themselves KARA," Sasuke said.

Temari blinked fast in realization. There should have been two on the mission. Only the Uchiha showed up at the office, meaning that there was someone missing. Her neck began to rise in panic as she clenched her hand.

"Where the hell is Shikamaru?" she asked, her voice deathly quiet. When she heard no sound from the Uchiha, she felt a lump in between her throat. Her mind began to scream hysterically. No Temari! You have to stay strong. Do not be weak, after all you wouldn't be called the cruelest kunoichi for a reason. You cannot show your vulnerable side, only Shikamaru can know about it.

"I couldn't find him," Sasuke chose his words wisely. "He sent a flare so I could find him, but by the time I got there, he was nowhere to be seen. I found lots of blood and followed it as far as I could, until the trail went cold. From the looks of it, he was attacked by maybe four of the KARA members. I'm sorry I couldn't get to him sooner . . . Temari."

Temari's fist grew whiter by every word Sasuke spewed out of his mouth. "Bull," she hissed. Damn these hormones. Being pregnant wasn't helping her come to a logical response to Sasuke, and she instead let fear and impulse rush through first.

"Temari," Naruto's voice cut through her like a knife jolting her from her anger. "Calm down. We will find Shikamaru no matter what. I need you to put on your thinking cap and we need to alert all shinobi's about this. We have to keep all the younger generations and the village blind from this situation, because we don't want to cause a panic. We will send groups to search for Shikamaru, but if we know Shikamaru well enough, he should be able to get away alive. He's not stupid for a reason."

She felt his hand gently press on her shoulder, making her stiffen. She took a deep breath look up glaring at Sasuke, before returning her gaze to Naruto, her gaze full of concentration.

"You're right," she spoke curtly. "We need to protect the village and Boruto. But it does not mean I won't go looking for Shikamaru."

"I promise I will find him," Naruto said sternly. "But right now, the village needs us to focus on the situation. We need to find out more about this KARA group."