Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Geographical Note: IMPORTANT! The town of Kitsaki lies within the center Akiyama Forest.
Thirty minutes away from Kitsaki, in the west side of the Akiyama Forest, is the bandit camp. To the north of the bandit came is a huge lake called Noroi Lake. The bandit camp actually lies partially under the lake and is very difficult to locate, Shikamaru and Temari have no knowledge of this (although they do know the general location).
Forty minutes away from Kitsaki, in the east side of Akiyama Forest, lies a strip of land called the Fumo Strip. Fumo Strip is a barren stretch of land, empty except for a mysterious landform known as the Kikai Heights.
Bandit Camp, Hidden Room
Yukan sat in his quarters, gazing at the clock. When would they be back?
1:00.
1:30.
2:00.
Why didn't I go?
2:30.
3:00.
3:15.
What will Big Brother bring me this time?
3:20.
3:25.
3:29.
3:30 –
The door flew open. "Hello, baby brother."
Yukan looked up. "…Leader."
His big brother stood in the doorway. His shoulders were wide, his arms muscular. Yukan wished that he could be like that like his big brother.
"Guess what, Yukan! I brought back a present!" his big brother exclaimed, spreading his arms wide.
Yukan gulped. Presents were never a good thing.
"You know how all the other ones are always mocking you and calling you a coward? Guess what!"
12:00 PM, Meeting Room, Kazekage Tower, Sunagakure
"You WHAT?" Kankuro got up and slammed his fists on the table.
"We are sorry, Kankuro. However, the best–"
"Yeah, right, you're 'sorry'! You were sorry when Gaara got kidnapped but you didn't do anything about it! You were sorry when—"
The counselor reached inside his robes and pulled out a note.
"Someone blackmailed the village."
To the village of Sunagakure:
Accept or else the Ichibi Shukaku will once again be released into the village.
3:31 PM, Bandit Camp, Hidden Room
Yukan stared in horror at the body on the ground.
"What?" his big brother asked. "He's not even dead yet."
Yukan backed away. "No."
"Go on, Yukan. Prove that you're a man. The bandits will stop laughing at you then."
"No. I-I can't do it."
"You have twenty-two hours before this man dies of chakra poisoning. Kill him."
Yukan's big brother turned and shut the door.
"Now. To take care of the other one."
3:35 PM, Akiyama Forest, Outside of Bandit Camp
Temari burst through the clearing, sweating profusely and out of breath. She remembered this place from the map. She bent over, catching her breath.
The moment that she wasn't looking, the ground blurred in the telltale signs of a genjutsu.
She stopped and looked around. Nothing but a flat outcropping of rock. No buildings. This wasn't a bandit camp. What was she doing here?
Temari turned and walked away.