Disclaimer: I...don't own Naruto. There you go.
1:30 PM, 30 Minutes South from Bandit Camp
"ATTACK!" Bandits swarmed out of trees and surrounded the two wagons. The oxen's' eyes widened, and the two men stumbled backwards in shock.
Then the bandits leapt upon the wagons, ripping the canvas off and exposing the piles of weapons below. They yanked weapons out of the pile, tossing them to their comrades.
Shikamaru made to jump off the branch, but Temari's arm caught him.
"Let go of me," Shikamaru whispered.
"No. We must not be seen."
The two men were thrown to the ground, their oxen bellowed in fear.
"I don't care. They're and in danger, and we have to help them."
The bandits began beating the men and whipping the oxen, laughing all the while.
"No. There are too many of them. Besides, if we just mindlessly –"
Several of them stuffed the weapons into sacks and made off into the forest.
"Kagemane no jutsu!" Shikamaru ignored Temari.
The fist stopped in midair, the whip hung loose from a limp hand. Feet stopped in their tracks.
Shikamaru grinned. "Shadow Possession Justu – success."
1:30 PM, Hokage Office, Konoha
"I hear that Shikamaru went with the ambassador from Sunagakure on a mission?" Shizune inquired, holding Tonton.
"That's right...Shizune - wait-how do you-?
"Is it true what you said, Lady Tsunade? About the chance of this survival with this...mission."
Tsunade glared at the mission information on her desk. "Don't you even call it a mission, Shizune. It's more of a suicide."
1:31 PM, 30 Minutes South from Bandit Camp
The bandits stood like statues. For some reason, they showed no signs of panic. No signs of struggle.
"S-So it was y-you…hiding in the trees."
Shikamaru and Temari looked down to see the the only bandit struggling against the shadow bonds. Sweat was forming upon his brow. On the bandit's sleeves, chest, and back were the characters for "leader".
"So very clever. Unfortunately…" The leader grinned.
Shikamaru felt a monstrous burst of chakra. His concentration broke, and the bandits were freed.
Shizune looked horrified. "Lady Tsunade! This-this-!"
"I know, I know, Shizune...I had no choice. The new leader of the Foundation and the elders...they forced me to."
"What do you mean, forced you to?"
Tsunade sighed, then reached into her drawers. Shizune didn't even notice the sake bottles.
Tsunade pulled out a note. It was short but threatening.
To the Hokage
Do it or else the village will burn.
"So what could I do? To choose between the lives of two, or the lives of many?"
It was in that moment that Shikamaru realized that he had made a huge mistake. Hadn't Lady Tsunade told them about...about...something about...what was it called again...cha...chak...chak-ruh? Something about...dan-ger-ous? Dan-ger-ous chak-ra...something about...death? 24...?
He swayed. What…
"Shikamaru? Are you all right?" Temari asked, also sensing something was off.
He fell right off the branch and was unconscious before the bandit leader caught him. The leader looked up at Temari.
"Well. Be seeing you then."
Before she could blink, they were gone.