Chapter 3:
If Old Acquaintances Be Forgotten…
Shikamaru, Shino, and Tenten were walking under a light blue sky with a complexion very, very similar to that of a blue bird's egg that was splattered with random pink cotton-candy-esque cirrus clouds. Small, t-shirt clad children ran past the trio, playing and laughing. Young people, calm and without worry, had friendly conversations on nice, clean, wooden benches. It was so alien to Shikamaru. He had to walk through the Konoha Ghetto every morning. The lack of strife and misery, the air smelling of warm barbeque and tea rather than feces and dead rodent, it was just so odd. He had gotten used to the Ghetto, when he moved to his new apartment after the war. It had become familiar, yet nonetheless frightening. Shikamaru then felt a sense of sorrow creep over him, as he saw four children on a swing set laugh amongst themselves. He remembered his youth, and how it wasn't as awful as he always thought he was. There were things to gain from that time, but he already gained them. Time keeps burning on. The world doesn't stop turning for anyone, no matter how grave their plea. "Hey Shikamaru! Check this out!" Tenten exclaimed as she pointed to restaurant they passed. Shikamaru's train of thought ended and he grew a wide smile. "Well I be damned…"
The trio entered Choji's Food Shack with bright grins, with the exception of Shino, who was happy, but wasn't very talented at showing it. Shikamaru rushed to the counter. A large, long haired man with a jolly laugh and an apron wielding two butcher knives greeted him. "What can I do for you, sir- well I be? God damn it's Shikamaru Nara!" the chef roared. "Choji Akiminchi! I missed you so much man!" shouted the detective. The two old friends hugged. "That's sweet," smiled Tenten. "Yeah. I guess." Shino agreed. "So you created your own restaurant. I knew nothing could keep you away from food." Smiled Shikamaru. "Yeah, I know. I just raised enough money to buy this place. But before I did that, I went to cooking school, and I think I can make decent food." Choji responded. "We'll see," continued Shikamaru, "make us something good! You choose the meal." "I'll give you the special. It'll be ready pretty soon…" Choji turned and headed towards the kitchen. "Oh my god! Choji look!" a bright voice exclaimed. "I already know Ino," Choji yelled from the kitchen, "I just met him." Ino Yamanaka, clad in an expensive fur coat, dashed up to Shikamaru and hugged him. "How have you been?! What have you been up to?!" said Ino cheerily. "It's great to see you too, Ino." Shikamaru said in a down-to-earth tone. "C'mon I'll get you a table. Hey! You guys came to." Ino turned to Shino and Tenten. Tenten bowed and said, "We're colleagues." "Is that so? That's very interesting. Tell me all about it at the table." Said Ino as she guided the group to the back of the restaurant.
As Tenten, Shikamaru, and Ino were chatting about recent events (with Shino just glancing at his cup they entire time) Choji arrived at the table with a big platter of barbeque. "Hey Shino, scoot over a little bit. I want to have a nice meal with you guys." Choji sat down and the friends began to eat. "Hey Shika. Light me one, will you?" said Ino as she drew a cigarette from her purse. "No problem." Shikamaru responded as he used his trusted lighter to light Ino's smoke. "Never stopped holding on to that, huh?" said Ino with a smile. "Why would I need another one? This was Asumas remember?" Shikamaru told Ino. "How I could forget." Ino answered back. "Yeah… Team 9 forever!" Choji roared as put his fist in the middle of the table. Shikamaru and Ino joined him as they put all their fists in the middle and lifted them up triumphantly, like they always did when their sensei was still alive.
They had finished their meal. "Good wasn't it?" asked Choji. "It was great." Tenten said thankfully. "Yeah, I thought so. I me-"Choji was cut off by a kunai that landed directly over Shikamaru's head. "Oh my-"Shikamaru stammered but Shino cut him off. "It was supposed to miss. Get out of the way!" The friends ducked under the table as the kunai exploded, scattering pieces of wood and flame everywhere. "That's store property!" Choji growled. Tenten and Shino rushed to the entrance of the restaurant, where there were three Yakuza hitman waiting for them. They were well-dressed and wielding kunai. Tenten recognized them easily as the ones who attempted to take Shikamaru's life. She swiftly picked a light scroll from her pocket and summoned a Kusarigama. With it she slit one of the hit men's throats, it gushed out in a silent shower as the man's throat split in half.
Author's Note: If you don't know what a Kusarigama is, imagine a small sickle attached to a long chain.
The two other hit-men dodged Tenten and Shinos next blows, and they began a hand seal. Soon there kunai where showered in sparks. They were using a Lightning Release jutsu. They attempted to shoot a bolt of lightning at Shino and Tenten, who were standing directly in front of them. However the projectile was blocked by a wide, dis-proportioned, enlarged arm. The two shinobi were relieved, Choji's Expansion Jutsu saved them. Tenten hopped over the wall of flesh and summoned a katana, dropping the Kusarigama. One of the hit-men attempted to stab her back, but she maneuvered out of his strike. As the kunai hit nothing, the hit-man realized that was not his aim. Slowly processing information in his brain, he realized Tenten was behind him. Before he could turn though, a katana pierced through the man's spine. After a quick, but disturbing scream, the man lost control over his body and dropped to the floor. Tenten unsheathed her sword from the Yakuza's flesh, and in the same action, knocked the kunai out of the surviving hit-man's hand. The criminal began whimpering and stepping a few steps backward. "Now listen, scum. You're going to tell me why you attempted to kill Shikamaru Nara, or I'm going to have to kill you. Understand?" Tenten asked as she pointed her blade directly at the center of the asassin's face. "I-I-I-I…I understand…" sobbed the Yakuza. Tenten smoothly hacked off the man's arm. The man released a fearful howl and tears began streaming down his face. "Every five seconds not spent telling me information, is one limb cut off. Understand?" said the bodyguard. "Tenten! Stop this!" cried Shikamaru from across the restaurant. Tenten looked irritated and turned her head. "Can't you see I'm trying to interrogate here?" she exclaimed. "Stop torturing him! We're not like Naruto. We don't do that!" Shikamaru yelled. "But we need the information!" Tenten angrily responded. "We'll find it without stooping down to their levels," said Shikamaru, "understand?" "But-"Tenten began murmuring. "Torture another human, no matter who, again and you're fired." Shikamaru decreed. Tenten gulped. She realized how serious Shikamaru was being. Tenten needed the money desperately, and she was already lucky enough to find this job. What other job would take her in? Tenten regained her bloodthirsty look and glanced at the Yakuza. "Boy are you lucky…" she muttered as she distanced herself from the hit-man. Shikamaru quickly walked over to him. "Just tell me why you did this, and everything's going to be fine. Okay?" he calmly said. The Yakuza was a nervous wreck. Sweat and tears were pouring out of his face faster than the blood from his wound.
"I-I-I- tried to k-kill you because… I had to stop you from trying to find w-who k-k-killed Sasuke…" he began to talk.
"Why?" asked Shikamaru.
"B-b-because the M-m-m-ori f-family told me t-to…"
"Aaah. I see. You're an assassin sent by the Mori crime family?"
"Y-yes…"
"Why does the Mori crime family guilty of killing Sasuke?"
"…"
"Answer me."
"…"
"Answer me!"
"… Flame R-release: Self Immolation no Jutsu!"
The dying hit-man performed a hand seal. Shikamaru was frozen in fear. A bright orange light filled the room. "Get out of the way!" exclaimed a strong, yet familiar voice. A great rushing sound filled everyone. They were knocked back into the dining hall of the restaurant. A powerful greyness filled the area. Everyone was shocked to see they were still alive.
Someone had saved them from a massive explosion.
To Be Continued in Chapter 4