Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or any properties in this work that I did not make myself.

Before the redemption

Chapter eight: Séance and a show

Shikamaru Nara was walking through the village of Konohagakure one day, minding himself, when a familiar voice called out, "Hey, Shikamaru! Guess who's here in Konoha?"

A smile appearing on his face, Shikamaru turned around and came face-to-face with his girlfriend Temari, who was dashing somewhat quickly to catch up to him. "Hey, Temari," Shikamaru greeted, "You didn't come all this way just to see me, did you?"

"Gaara wanted to discuss something with your Hokage," Temari explained, "There's been some troublesome activity in the Land of Wind as of late, and it has Gaara worried."

"Troublesome activity?" Shikamaru repeated in a concerned tone.

Nodding in the affirmative, Temari continued, "Kumo ninja have been spotted periodically in and around the various towns and villages in the Land of Wind. Suna hasn't seen any Kumo ninja yet, and there hasn't been any hostile activity from them yet. But Gaara is still concerned."

Sighing, Shikamaru remarked, "You're right, Temari. That DOES sound troublesome, and you can trust me when I say that something's troublesome. I know troublesome."

Nodding in understanding, Temari said, "Anywho, Kankuro and I came along with Gaara, mostly because we've been itching with boredom back in Suna. Due to all of the troublesome activity involving Kumo ninja having been spotted in the Land of Wind, Gaara is reluctant to let Kankuro and I out of the village."

"You and Kankuro are the only living relatives that Gaara has left," Shikamaru pointed out.

Sighing, Temari said, "I guess you have me there." Chuckling, Temari added, "You know, back when my brothers and I first came to Konoha, I never would have suspected that Gaara, of all people, would ever worry about the safety and well-being of others." Giving her boyfriend a knowing look, Temari said, "I guess I have your blonde friend to thank for opening Gaara's eyes and making him smell the coffee."

"Yeah, that's Naruto for you," Shikamaru remarked, "And to think, Naruto was actually worse off than Gaara."

A confused look on her face, Temari said, "I thought that Naruto was always a pleasant person."

"No, no, that isn't what I meant," Shikamaru replied with a gentle shake of his head, "Gaara always had a family, whereas Naruto has never had any family to speak of." (1)

A mildly somber look appearing across her face, Temari said, "Yeah, that's quite the-"

"Oh, hey Temari! Fancy seeing you here!" a male voice called out, getting Temari and Shikamaru to turn and see Choji Akimichi, the best friend of Shikamaru, come walking up. With Choji was his girlfriend Karui, who had recently been granted political asylum in Konoha. It goes without saying that it was Choji who called out. "So Shikamaru," Choji went on, "Are you, Ino and I still on for tonight?"

"You have something planned with your teammates tonight?" Temari asked as she turned to face Shikamaru.

Nodding in the affirmative, Shikamaru explained, "We're planning on holding a séance."

"A séance?" the sister of the sand siblings repeated in a mildly confused tone.

Nodding in the affirmative, Shikamaru explained, "Back when Choji, Ino and I were all still genin, our late teacher Asuma-sensei did a séance sometime shortly after the Konoha Crush in order to communicate with his father, the late Lord Third Hokage. Asuma-sensei allowed Choji, Ino and I to watch. Choji thought what Asuma-sensei was doing was cool, so he took down notes on everything, including on how to perform a séance."

"I still have those notes, so Shikamaru, Ino and I were planning on using them to perform a séance tonight," Choji stated, "Oh, and that reminds me." Facing Shikamaru specifically, Choji said, "Karui wants to know if it's okay for her to come along tonight."

"This whole séance business sounds cool, and I want to see it," Karui explained to the Nara chunnin, "Maybe we can try to communicate with Lord Forth Raikage or Master Bee, or one of my friends who tried to flee Kumo with me."

"Oh yeah, Shikamaru told me about that business," Temari remarked as she pointed to Karui, "A good thing he did, too. Otherwise I probably would have attacked you on the spot the moment I saw you." (2)

"Sorry Karui, but Choji, Ino and I have enough incense to communicate with one spirit," Shikamaru explained, "And we've already decided whose spirit to communicate with. But you're still welcome to come, if you wish."

Nodding in understanding, the Kumo kunoichi replied, "Fair enough, I suppose. And yes, I would still like to come. I think Ino said something about bringing Sai along as well."

"Hey," Temari said as she turned to face Shikamaru, "If your friends are bringing their respective dates to this séance thing, then I want to come too."

"We're having the séance tonight," Shikamaru pointed out, "Won't you and your brothers be out of Konoha by that point?"

"We're actually staying overnight, as Gaara has a number of things to discuss with your Hokage," Temari explained, "So I actually have the time."

"Hmm," Shikamaru said, "Well if that's the case, then I don't see why you can't come."

"Just be sure to do what Shikamaru, Ino and I say, Temari," Choji remarked, "We know what we're doing."

Nodding in understanding, Temari said, "You got it, chief."

That night, Shikamaru, Choji and Ino met up at an unused store house on Akimichi clan property; Choji was able to secure use of it ahead of time. As Choji and Shikamaru set up for the séance, Ino got to talking with Temari, who she did not expect to come to the séance. (3)

"…And that's when Gaara scolded me for teasing Homika," Temari said in a mild tone of complaint as she wrapped up a story she was telling to the other girls and Sai, "I mean, come on! I was just playing around!"

"Homika?" Sai repeated in a confused tone, "Who is that?"

"Some mousey little nerdette who works at the Kazekage office building as a secretary," Temari explained with an indifferent shrug. (4)

"Maybe your younger brother is concerned with the well-being of the people who work for him," Ino remarked, "I mean, I heard that this one time, Lady Tsunade once punched out one of the guards of a visiting noble just because that guard said that Sakura looked kind of homely."

Her eyes widening somewhat, Temari said to the Yamanaka chunnin in a mildly subdued tone, "Remind me never to insult your friend Sakura."

"Hey girls, Sai," Shikamaru called out from over at the table where he and Choji set up the séance, "We're ready to start! Ino, get ready to take your place."

The girls and Sai walked over to where the table was at, with Ino standing between Shikamaru and Choji (Shikamaru was on Ino's left, and Choji was on Ino's right). At Choji's instruction, the guests stood back a bit, although they were able to see what was set up on the table; a number of long wax candles, one at each corner of the table and already lit. In the center of the table were two incense burners on either side of a crystal ball resting comfortably in the middle of a light purple square-shaped cushion that had little tassels on each corner. In front of the crystal ball was a pair of brass knuckle chakra blades that sort of resembled trench knives; on the left of the chakra blades was a pack of cigarettes, and on the right of the chakra blades was a cigarette lighter (a cheap red one that one can buy at most stores).

"In order to call upon the spirit of the person we wish to communicate with," Shikamaru said aloud as he explained things to the guests, "Those who perform the séance must first join hands, then say aloud the favorite phrase of the person they wish to communicate with."

Shikamaru, Ino and Choji all joined hands, closed their eyes, and concentrated. After everything was silent for a few seconds, Shikamaru, Ino and Choji all said aloud and in unison, "Not right now!"

Suddenly, to the shock of the guests that were brought along, wind started blowing randomly in the room. A glowing white light appeared over the crystal ball, growing in size and changing shape, eventually resembling a human. As the shape gained more and more detail, Temari said in an alarmed tone, "The hell is going on?!"

"Relax, Temari," Shikamaru called out as he and his teammates let go of each other's hands, "This is supposed to happen! Nothing to worry about!"

The glowing shape eventually fully resembled a deceased individual, one who Shikamaru and his teammates were all too familiar with. As he floated over the crystal ball on the table, the ghost of Asuma Sarutobi proclaimed, "I live!" (5)

"No, not really, Asuma-sensei," Shikamaru said to the ghost. Hearing the voice of one of his students speak up, Asuma looked down and saw all three of his students.

A mildly stern look on his face, Asuma said, "You three better not have had used the Edo Tensei to bring me here!"

"No, no," Ino assured the ghost of her sensei, "We're just performing a séance, Asuma-sensei. Remember when you did one to communicate with Lord Third?"

A look of realization on his face, the ghost of Asuma said, "Huh. I didn't figure that any of you three would have paid close enough attention to what I was doing back then." Relaxing somewhat, Asuma looked down at the table. "Ah, so you're using my old chakra blades as the focus for my spirit. And I see that you have also provided the offering!"

At that cue, Shikamaru picked up the pack of cigarettes and bent it; at the same time, Choji took a hammer and smashed the lighter. After Shikamaru laid the bent cigarette pack back down onto the table, Asuma's ghost reached down at the bent pack of cigarettes and the smashed lighter, pulling up a ghostly lighter and ghostly pack of cigarettes. After lighting one of the ghostly cigarettes with the ghostly lighter, Asuma took a drag from it. "Oh yeah," Asuma said in a relaxed tone, "That's the stuff." Looking around the room further, Asuma's line of sight eventually fell upon the guests. A confused look on his face, Asuma pointed to them and asked, "Who are they?"

"Oh, that would be Shikamaru's girlfriend Temari, Choji's girlfriend Karui, and my boyfriend Sai," Ino explained, "They came to watch."

A hand on his right hip, Asuma said, "Huh, you don't say. You know Ino, that boy looks like the kind of boy that I bet your father would chase around with a baseball bat."

"My dad has chased Sai around with a baseball bat," Ino replied in a bemused tone, "Often with Mr. Fisher and/or Mrs. Inuzuka backing him up."

"How are your folks doing, by the way?" Asuma asked his students, "I mean, I remember hearing while I was reincarnated during the Fourth Great Ninja War that your respective dads all took part."

"Oh, they all lived," Shikamaru explained, "Granted, the base where my dad and Ino's dad were both stationed was blown up by a gigantic tailed beast ball, but a lot of the folks at the base were all carrying Pod Shields, so they all survived." (6)

"I bet that if my fighting style involved just one chakra blade instead of a pair, I probably could have worked a Pod Shield into the balance," Asuma remarked, "That would have saved my sorry ass against that crazy scythe guy." Sighing, Asuma said after a few seconds, "How's Kurenai doing, by the way?"

"Oh, Kurenai-sensei is doing fine," Choji replied, "Sometime shortly before the Fourth Great Ninja War began, Kurenai-sensei gave birth to a girl."

"Damn it!" Asuma remarked as he snapped the fingers in his right hand, "I was banking on a son!"

"I think a girl is perfectly fine, mister Asuma," Karui remarked from where she stood with Temari and Sai.

Sighing, Asuma said, "Whatever." Looking to his students, Asuma said, "So anywho, why did you all hold this séance to communicate with me? I hope the reason is better than just because you missed me, although that would be rather sweet of you three."

"Well we did miss you, yes," Shikamaru remarked, "But we actually do have a reason for communicating with you. Specifically, the mission involving Lord Third's old sports ring."

"Ah yes, my dad's old sports ring," Asuma remarked, "I remember that old thing."

"What sort of mission are you all talking about?" Sai asked.

"It was a mission that took place shortly after the Konoha Crush, but before that pair of rouge ninja showed up," Ino explained as she turned to face the guests.

"Yeah, Ino's right," the ghost of Asuma remarked, "Well, it wasn't so much an actual mission, so much as it was a sort-of competition between me and Kurenai about whose method of teaching their respective team of genin was better." Taking a sitting position over the crystal ball that he floated over, Asuma said, "For those here who were not present for when this went down, here's the story…"

(ROUGHLY FIVE TO SIX YEARS AGO, KONOHAGAKURE)

Kakashi Hatake, Asuma Sarutobi and Might Gai were in one of the local training grounds with their respective team of genin; the only genin who was not present was Rock Lee. (7) "Hmm," Gai said as he wore a look of consideration, "Kurenai and her team should have been here by now. We cannot go over the emergency drills without her."

"Feh," Asuma scoffed with an indifferent shrug of his shoulders, "She's probably treating her genin to lunch at that fancy cake café that she likes. She coddles her genin too much, if you ask me!"

"You're just overthinking things, Asuma," Kakashi remarked in a seconding tone, "Besides which, you may want to take a hint or two from Kurenai in that regard."

Regarding the copycat ninja with a mildly suspicious look, Asuma said, "What do you mean, Kakashi?"

"From all accounts that I've been hearing," Kakashi explained, "You're something of a slave-driver to your students. Don't get me wrong, it's a good thing that you're making them work, but making them work too much or too hard cannot be good for them."

"Asuma-sensei is making us work too hard?" Choji asked in a confused tone, "I don't get it."

"See?" Asuma said to Kakashi as he gestured to Choji, "My own students don't think I'm a slave-driver!"

"Well maybe that's because they haven't seen how Kurenai treats her students," Kakashi pointed out, "Or how I treat my students, or how Gai treats his. They don't have anything to compare the way you treat them to."

"I don't think Asuma-sensei works us too hard," Shikamaru said, "Works us too MUCH, totally. But too HARD, I don't think so."

"Heh," Asuma laughed in an amused tone, "Typical Shikamaru. Doesn't mind quality of work, so long as he does not have to do a quantity-"

*FWEEEEEEET*

Asuma was cut off when a loud whistle sound came out of nowhere, making him and the others flinch slightly. Looking over in the direction the whistling came from, the jonin and the genin all saw Kurenai walk up with her students; Kiba was covering his ears and Akamaru, who was resting on Kiba's head, was whimpering. Hinata was holding in her right hand a lavender whistle that was attached to a lavender-colored lanyard around her neck (Hinata's headband was over the lanyard).

"Holy balls, that was painful," Kiba remarked.

"I'm sorry Kiba, but the demonstration was necessary," Kurenai explained to her Inuzuka student. Turning to face the rest of the gathered Konoha ninja, Kurenai said, "I'm sorry if that startled you all, but it's part of the reason why I called you all out here."

"Hmm?" Kakashi said as he noticed the whistle on Hinata's lanyard; it wasn't a traditional sports whistle, but one that was cylindrical in shape. To Kurenai, Kakashi said, "Is that a rape whistle that you gave to your student, Kurenai?"

"I just found out that the teachers at the Leaf Village Ninja Academy never bothered to go over stranger safety with the students," Kurenai remarked in a mildly disgusted tone, "The girls won't know what to do if someone tries to abduct them or force themselves on them!"

Reaching into her ninja weapons pouch, Kurenai pulled out three rape whistles, each attached to a lanyard of matching color; one set was pink, one was rich purple, and one was green. Tossing the pink one to Sakura, the purple one to Ino and the green one to Tenten, Kurenai said to the other jonin instructors, "It's up to us as their teachers to make sure the girls are properly educated and equipped to handle whatever may come along. This is especially important given the recent attack on Konoha."

"A brilliant idea, Kurenai!" Gai proclaimed, then with a mildly confused look added, "But wouldn't it have been a good idea to have gotten each of the boys one of those as well?"

"Pfft, boys don't need rape whistles," Kurenai replied in a dismissive tone, "The idea of a boy needing one is just silly." (8)

"Hey, uhh, Ino," Asuma began, "Can I see that rape whistle that Kurenai just gave you?" Doing as Asuma asked, Ino handed her rape whistle over. After he considered it for a few seconds, Asuma turned around and chucked the rape whistle as hard as he could, managing to throw it clear into town.

"Asuma, what the hell?!" Kurenai exclaimed, looking very much angry.

"It's bad enough that you coddle your own students, Kurenai," Asuma said, "But I'll be damned if I let you do the same to mine!"

"You only think I quote unquote 'coddle' my students because you're a slave-driver to yours!" Kurenai snapped.

"Uhh, how many of your students made it past the first part of the combat portion of the recent chunnin exams?" Asuma asked, "Just one. Remember how many of MY students made it past round one?"

"One," Shikamaru pointed out, "That weird pink-haired boy named Natsu knocked out Choji (9) while Ino and Sakura took each other out. Kakashi-sensei is the only one of you jonin instructors to have had more than one of the genin on his team to make it past round one of the combat portion of the chunnin exams."

"ARUGH!" Gai exclaimed as he looked up to the sky while gripping the sides of his head, "Once again I am defeated by my eternal rival Kakashi!"

"Can I say something?" Sasuke asked, raising a hand.

"No," Asuma and Kurenai said to the last Uchiha in unison before going back to chewing each other out.

"I bet that I can do a way better job with training your genin than you can with mine, Kurenai," Asuma challenged.

"Oh really?" Kurenai replied, "Well how about a little competition, then?"

"What do you mean, Kurenai?" Asuma asked, a suspicious look on his face.

"As he was your father, you should know about the summer home the late Lord Third had in the town a few miles outside of Konoha," Kurenai began, "According to the two guards who regularly served Lord Third, he left his prized sports ring at the summer home." Pointing to Asuma, Kurenai said, "I'll lead your team to the summer home while you lead mine. First to recover your father's sports ring wins."

"Can I get in on this action?" Gai asked, an eager look on his face, "I do love a competition!"

"Gai, I think that it's best to leave this between Kurenai and Asuma," Kakashi remarked as he turned to face his self-proclaimed rival, "That being said." Turning to face his students, Kakashi said, "Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, I want the three of you to steer clear of this mess. I don't want any of you getting caught up in some bitter rivalry between the other jonin instructors, alright? It's bad enough their dragging their own students into this mess."

"You're just scared that you think my students can beat yours, Kakashi!" Gai proclaimed, pointing dramatically at his eternal rival.

"Umm, Gai-sensei," Neji remarked, "Naruto defeated me during the chunnin exams, remember?" (10)

Without turning to face his student, Gai continued to look at Kakashi. "…You're smiling at me in a mocking manner under that mask, you bastard," Gai said to Kakashi, "Aren't you?"

"So, it's agreed," Asuma said, "Kurenai shall lead my students to the summer home, whereas I shall lead her students there! And the winner will prove their method as correct!"

"You're going down, Asuma," Kurenai said, "The gentle approach is the best."

"Like hell it is!" Asuma declared, "The firm approach is the best!"

(FLASHBACK OVER)

"…Yeah, now I remember," Choji said as all eyes were on him, "Asuma-sensei thought that Kurenai-sensei was being too easy on Kiba, Shino and Hinata, whereas Kurenai-sensei thought that Asuma-sensei was being too hard on Shikamaru, Ino and I."

"So, how was miss Kurenai?" Karui asked in a curious tone.

"She is a lot more relaxed than Asuma-sensei was," Shikamaru replied, "You see, this is how our pre-mission run down went…"

(ROUGHLY FIVE TO SIX YEARS AGO, KONOHAGAKURE)

Shikamaru, Choji and Ino were waiting for Kurenai to show up at the throwing weapons practice area. "Okay you three, I'm here," Kurenai called out. When she came into view, she saw to her confusion that Shikamaru, Choji and Ino were all standing at attention.

"Umm…why are you three standing at attention?" Kurenai asked.

"We're waiting for you to give us the run-down on our objective, sir!" Shikamaru said, a somewhat nervous look on his face.

Sighing in an exasperated manner, Kurenai said, "Asuma put the idea into your head that standing at attention is required, didn't he?"

"He would make all three of us run laps if even one of us was out of line, sir!" Choji explained in the same tone as Shikamaru.

Shaking her head, Kurenai muttered, "I knew it. Asuma is a slave-driver." Speaking out loud, Kurenai said, "You three can relax. And cut it out with the standing at attention! You're just kids, for crying out loud!"

"We…don't have to stand at attention, sir?" Ino asked, sounding mildly unsure.

"No, no you do not," Kurenai replied in a kind tone, "And you don't have to call me 'sir'. Kurenai-sensei will be sufficient." (11)

As the three genin relaxed visibly, Kurenai asked, "I don't suppose any of you know where Lord Third's summer home is located, do you?"

"Luckily, Asuma-sensei took us there once," Shikamaru replied, "Why do you ask? Do you not know?"

"I know, don't worry," Kurenai assured the Nara genin, "I just wanted to know if any of you know the way."

"We're all familiar with the way to Lord Third's summer home," Ino said, then in a mildly unsure tone added, "Kurenai-sensei."

Chuckling in a good-natured tone, Kurenai said, "You kids can relax. I'm not going to force you all to act like rank-and-file soldiers." Their respective expressions lightening up noticeably, the genin students of Asuma all sighed in relief.

(FLASHBACK OVER)

"I knew it," the ghost of Asuma said as he floated over the crystal ball, "Kurenai is a coddler."

"Well she DID raise a few valid points about you being a tad more commanding than what was necessary," Shikamaru pointed out, "Especially considering the fact that Ino, Choji, the others and I were only just genin at the time."

"What really bothered me was that Kurenai took her genin to that sweets shop rather than the barbecue grill," Asuma stated, "Meat is manly!"

"I'll agree to that!" Choji remarked.

"Well Kurenai-sensei is a woman, Asuma-sensei," Ino said, "Not to mention the fact that it was fairly obvious that Hinata was her favorite, given that they were of a like mind on a number of points."

Sighing in an exasperated tone, Asuma said, "Yeesh, that brings me to when I was about to give Kurenai's students the run down for the mission to get to my late father's old sports ring…"

(ROUGHLY FIVE TO SIX YEARS AGO, KONOHAGAKURE)

Asuma came to the practice grounds where Kurenai's students would be waiting for him. When he got there, he saw that Kiba and Shino were standing around casually. "What is going on here?!" Asuma called out in a somewhat commanding tone, mildly startling Kiba and Shino.

Turning to regard Asuma with a confused look, Kiba asked, "What are you talking about, Asuma-sensei?"

"One, you will refer to me as sir," Asuma began in a somewhat firmer tone than what he had used before, "Two, why aren't you two standing at attention and in proper formation, and three, why are there only two of you?

"One, Kurenai-sensei was obviously right about you being a slave-driver if this is how you command others that are placed under your command, especially considering the fact that Kiba and I are just genin and not rank-and-file soldiers," Shino replied, "Two, Kurenai-sensei never has us 'stand at attention' or 'in proper formation' as you put it, and three, Hinata ran away."

"She what?!" Asuma exclaimed, looking angry and annoyed.

"She said that you're terrifying, and took off the moment she felt that you weren't paying attention," Kiba explained to Asuma, "Hyuga clan fun fact: Hinata's father, who is the leader of the Hyuga clan by the way, has a very low and poor opinion of you, so he won't hold what Hinata did against her in the least."

Sighing in an exasperated tone, Asuma said as he face-palmed, "I can't beat Kurenai in this challenge unless I have all three of her students just as she has all three of mine." Looking to Kurenai's male students, Asuma pointed at them and said, "You two will wait here while I go off and find Hinata."

…

A few minutes later, Asuma was hopping from tree branch to tree branch, looking around for any sign of the Hyuga genin kunoichi. "Hmm," Asuma said quietly to himself, "If I was a mousey little genin kunoichi who Kurenai treats as her personal lap pet, where would I hide if I ran away from real work?"

As Asuma stopped on a tree branch on a tree located near another practice area, he stopped and looked to see who was in the practice area. To his interest, Asuma saw the respective students of Kakashi and Gai, minus Rock Lee. Apparently, Naruto was talking to Neji about something, but Asuma was too far away to hear what was being said.

"I wish that Gai would get along with Kakashi the way that their respective genin get along here," Asuma thought, "Gai really has to cool it with the whole 'eternal rival' business, because eventually it's going to land him in some pretty hot water." As Asuma looked around the area he was in some more, he spotted Hinata secretly watching the meeting between the students of Kakashi and Gai; the Hyuga genin was hiding behind a tree.

"Found you," Asuma thought as a mischievous smirk spread across his face. Hopping down from the tree branch he stood on and landing so that he made as little noise as possible, Asuma silently snuck up behind Hinata who, due to paying close attention to the meeting between Kakashi's students and Gai's students, was painfully unaware of her surroundings. As such, Asuma was able to wrap his arms around her stomach and hoist her up.

Unfortunately for Asuma, he threw his arms around Hinata from under her arms instead of over them, and as such, Hinata's arms were free. Immediately after gasping in shock that someone had grabbed her from behind, Hinata took the rape whistle that was on the lanyard around her neck and blew on it as hard as she could, startling Asuma into letting go of her. After Hinata got her feet back down on the ground, she blew on her whistle a few more times; within a few seconds, the students of Kakashi and Gai all came into the area where Hinata and Asuma stood.

"What's going on here, Hinata?" Naruto asked in a concerned tone.

"Asuma-sensei snuck up from behind me, grabbed me, and tried to pick me up!" Hinata exclaimed in a terrified tone right before blowing on her whistle again.

"He did WHAT?!" Tenten exclaimed, looking very much both angry and disgusted.

"It's not what it looks like, I swear!" Asuma explained, "You see, I was just giving Kurenai's students the run-down about the-"

"I heard someone blow on their rape whistle," Kurenai called out as she came running onto the scene with Asuma's students. Following the four of them were Kakashi and Gai. "What's going on here?" Kurenai asked.

"Asuma-sensei grabbed Hinata and tried to pick her up after sneaking up from behind her," Naruto said to Kurenai as he pointed an accusing finger at Asuma, "Then Hinata blew on the whistle that you gave her, Kurenai-sensei!"

"Asuma-sensei! How could you?!" Ino exclaimed, looking equal parts disgusted and offended.

"She ran off before I could even give her, Kiba and Shino the run-down for the mission, so I was just trying to find her and bring her back over," Asuma explained, "That's all, I swear!"

…

Late that afternoon, Asuma walked out of a legal office with the other jonin instructors. The other jonin realized that Asuma was actually telling the truth, but before they could reassure their students about it, the genin had all run off, screaming that Asuma was trying to force himself on one of them. This had made the process of damage control, which the jonin instructors had just at that moment finished wrapping up, very difficult.

"Now in their defense, Asuma," Kakashi said, "The way you were trying to take Hinata back to where Kiba and Shino were waiting did look pretty suspicious."

"What I wanna know is why you didn't scold Naruto for kicking me in my coin purse," Asuma said to the copycat ninja.

"Again, what you were doing looked pretty suspicious," Kakashi replied.

Turning to face Kurenai, Asuma said, "And why did YOU pat Naruto on the head and gave him a caramel?"

"I have my reasons," Kurenai replied. (12)

"Well now Asuma, my good man," Gai remarked, "Now that the competition between you and Kurenai had floundered out before it could even begin, how will the two of you determine which one of you has the best method when it comes to teaching your genin students?"

Sighing, Asuma said, "I was just going to offer to Kurenai that we can call it a draw."

Nodding, Kurenai said, "Yeah, that sounds reasonable, given the circumstances."

"Excuse me!" a male voice called out from behind the four jonin, making them all turn around. When they did, Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai and Gai all saw that Hiashi Hyuga, two Hyuga clan shinobi dressed in the standard outfit for Konoha shinobi, and Neji were all standing there. It had been Hiashi who had called out.

"Asuma-sensei is the one with the beard, Lord Hiashi," Neji said as he turned to face his uncle.

"Thank you, Neji," the Hyuga clan lord replied before he gestured for the two Hyuga shinobi to follow him.

The two words that Kakashi said to Asuma were all the instructions that the bearded jonin needed; "Asuma. Run."

(FLASHBACK OVER)

"…Those men ended up chasing me halfway across the village, and only gave up because I managed to shake them," Asuma's ghost said to his living audience, "Two days later, I had learned that Lord Hiashi had sent Naruto a charming gift basket full of various snacks and candies, along with a thank you note."

"So, THAT'S how Naruto got all of those snacks," Choji remarked in a wondering tone, "That all was a lot of high-class goods."

"So anywho, why did you all want to know about the old sports ring my father had?" Asuma asked.

"As far as we're aware, the ring is still over at the summer home," Shikamaru explained, "Choji, Ino and I were considering heading over there, collecting the ring, and delivering it to your next of kin so as to complete the mission."

"That is a nice thought," Asuma replied, "Although the whole 'mission' thing is kind of pointless by now, if you think about it."

"We were planning to do it for the symbolic value," Choji said.

"Oh!" Asuma remarked as he floated over the crystal ball, "Well in that case go for it! Oh, who did you have in mind about giving the sports ring to?"

"Shikamaru and Choji suggested your nephew, but I think that we should give it to Kurenai-sensei, given that she gave birth to your child," Ino explained.

"Ehh, I think the boys have the right idea, Ino," Asuma replied, "I mean, it's nice that you'd give such consideration to Kurenai, but my father's sports ring is something that's supposed to be handed down from man to man." To his students as a whole, Asuma said, "So yeah. If you all do find the ring, can you give it to Konohamaru for me?"

"Can do, Asuma-sensei," Shikamaru replied with a salute, a gesture that was copied by Choji, Ino, Sai, Temari and Karui.

"Well then, if this is all, then I suppose that I'll be heading back now," Asuma said, "Oh, and Shikamaru?" As he pointed to his pair of chakra blades that laid on the table, Asuma continued, "You see my chakra blades there? I want you to do me a favor and make sure my kid gets them when she's old enough to handle them. Until then, hold onto them for her, alright?"

"Yes sir," Shikamaru replied.

"You kids do me proud, alright?" Asuma said as his incorporeal form faded, "I'll be seeing you all at some point. Hopefully later rather than sooner." With that, the spirit of Asuma faded into the ether.

With the séance concluded, Shikamaru and his teammate turned to face their respective guests. "It's a bit too late to go over to the summer home now," Shikamaru said to the others, "So I propose that we hold off on it until first thing tomorrow."

"You mind if I tag along?" Temari asked, "I've been dying to do any sort of mission to relieve the boredom, and I've never tried one of these last request-type missions."

"When will you and your brothers be leaving back to Suna?" Shikamaru asked.

"We're intending to stay until Gaara gets your Hokage to agree to assist with the troublesome business that the Land of Wind is dealing with right now," Temari replied, "From what I've heard, your Hokage will be rather stubborn concerning any business having to deal with Kumo ninja." A mildly worried look on her face, Temari turned to face Karui and said, "No offence."

"None taken," Karui replied in an understanding tone.

"Now normally, I'd be for the idea of keeping this mission to just me, Shikamaru and Choji," Ino said, "But what you said has given me an idea on getting Sai out of the village so that he'd have some time away from my dad trying to harass him." To her teammates, Ino said, "I think we should bring them along."

"Karui has to stay in Konoha, as it's giving her political asylum from Kumo," Choji pointed out.

"That's fair enough," Karui remarked, "But don't let me stop the rest of you."

"Then it's agreed," Shikamaru said to the others that were present, "Tomorrow, my teammates, Temari, Sai and I will head over to Lord Third's summer home, collect his old sports ring, and bring it back to Konoha so we can deliver it to Konohamaru!" Shikamaru, Ino, Choji, Temari and Sai all threw their hands together, then threw the hands up.

The following afternoon, Shikamaru and his group all walked back into the village. They were greeted by Karui, who said as she handed a wrapped bento to Choji, "How did it go? Did you guys find the sports ring?"

"We searched the entirety of Lord Third's summer home and found no sports ring to speak of!" Shikamaru exclaimed.

"Oh, you mean Uncle Asuma's old ring?" a young male voice called out, getting everyone to turn and see Konohamaru walk up with his friends Udon and Moegi, plus Hanabi; the only one of the six older ninja who recognized Hanabi was Ino, who smiled and gave the young Hyuga girl a friendly handwave.

"You know about it?" Shikamaru asked.

Nodding once in the affirmative, Konohamaru said, "Yeah, a bit after that one incident a few years back where Uncle Asuma was almost forced to register as a sex offender, Big Bro and his teammates, plus those two fellows Neji and Tenten, all went over to grandpa's old summer home to try and find that ring. They found it and were debating what to do with it."

"According to the story that Big Bro told us," Udon continued, "Sasuke wanted to return it to Konohamaru's uncle as it belonged to Konohamaru's family, but that Tenten girl didn't like the idea of giving something so nice to mister Asuma, due to the stunt that he pulled at the time and the fact that mister Asuma might have tried to use that as proof that his way of being a jonin instructor was better than miss Kurenai's way."

"Big Bro then said that with the concerns about Uncle Asuma trying to prove that his methods were better than miss Kurenai's methods, Neji suggested that they give the ring to miss Kurenai instead, so that she can prove that her methods were better," Konohamaru said.

"Then Big Bro told us about Sakura's suggestion, which was the one they used," Moegi said.

"What was Sakura's suggestion?" Ino asked.

"They ended up giving the ring to Hanabi's older sister," Udon replied, "On the basis that she had been going through a lot at the time and they all thought that a nice gift would make her feel better."

"Shortly after mister Asuma's funeral, Onee-sama learned that the ring actually belonged to Konohamaru's family," Hanabi said, "So she gave the ring to Konohamaru."

"A few months after that, I was in a real pinch money wise, so I decided to pawn the ring," Konohamaru said, "Luckily for me, I ran into Hanabi's older sister on the way to the pawn shop, I told her what I was having to do, and she offered to buy the sports ring from me while saying that, when I could afford it, she'd sell it back to me at half the price at which I sold it to her."

"Which just further proves that Onee-sama is the single greatest and nicest person alive," Hanabi said.

"Were you able to buy the sports ring back from Hinata yet?" Choji asked Konohamaru.

With a gentle shake of his head, Konohamaru said, "No, not yet. I would have been able to do so after I had gotten my share of the payment from the latest mission I did with Udon and Moegi, but we were forced to forgo being paid so that we could bail Ebisu-sensei out of some serious trouble. We all also had to dip a little bit into our respective savings, too."

With a huff, Karui said, "Well this Ebisu-sensei fellow had better pay the three of you back!"

"I highly doubt that he'll ever do it," Moegi said in a knowing tone while shrugging.

"How much did you sell the sports ring to Hinata for?" Shikamaru asked.

"Ten-thousand ryo," Konohamaru replied.

"And you said that Hinata told you that you only had to pay her five-thousand to get it back, right?" Shikamaru continued, drawing a nod in the affirmative from Konohamaru.

"Onee-sama still has the sports ring, in case you all were wondering," Hanabi remarked, "She keeps it in a little keepsake box hidden in the top drawer of her dresser. The box also contains a charm bracelet, her back-up asthma inhaler, a lavender scrunchy, and a photo of that guy with spiky yellow-blonde hair. There's a heart drawn around the guy's face."

"Hanabi, you shouldn't be going through Hinata's things," Ino said in a mild scolding tone.

"I'm her little sister," Hanabi rebutted as she casually dismissed Ino's mild scolding, "Going through Onee-sama's belongings is something that I'm entitled to."

"Why are you all asking about Uncle Asuma's ring?" Konohamaru asked.

"We had a séance last night where we communicated with Asuma-sensei so we could ask him if he wanted us to carry out the mission involving the ring from a while ago," Shikamaru replied, "You know, for symbolic value. He gave us the okay and even asked to make sure that you got the ring, Konohamaru. As his students, it's up to Choji, Ino and I to carry out this request."

"I wish you would have told me that you were going to hold a séance to talk to Uncle Asuma," Konohamaru said, "I would have loved to have come along. But like I said, I'm waiting until I save up five-thousand ryo so I can buy the sports ring back from Hanabi's older sister."

"You want that Ino, Shikamaru and I pool the money together and buy it back for you?" Choji offered. Both Shikamaru and Ino nodded in agreement with the offer that Choji just made.

"No need to go that far for me," Konohamaru replied, "Besides, it's best if I handle this myself, as I need to prove that I can handle my own affairs."

"That's a very mature thing for you to say, Konohamaru," Choji remarked in a tone that parents (usually fathers) use when praising kids, "I bet that Asuma-sensei, if he was around to have heard that, would have said that you've proven yourself to be a real man. In fact, why don't I treat you and your friends here to lunch at the barbecue grill? Asuma-sensei did it for me and my teammates many times, so I should do the same for you all."

"We're all actually on our way home right now," Konohamaru said, "But thank you or the offer. Maybe we can take you up on it tomorrow during lunch?" Udon, Moegi and Hanabi all nodded in agreement with what Konohamaru said.

"Sounds like a plan, kids," Choji replied. After the genin took their leave, Shikamaru and his teammate all turned to face their respective dates.

"That was real nice of you, Choji," Karui said.

"Well back when my teammates, our classmates and I were all still genin, our jonin instructors would often take us out to lunch," Choji explained to the others, "Eventually, instead of people treating my friends and I to lunch, it will be my friends and I who will be the ones covering the bill. It's all a part of growing up."

"I couldn't agree with you more, dude," Shikamaru remarked, patting his best friend on the back.

END, BEFORE THE REDEMPTION CHAPTER EIGHT

Author's Notes:

(1) Shikamaru isn't aware that the issue concerning Naruto's lack of a family will soon be resolved.

(2) Given what's currently going on in the Land of Wind, one cannot truly blame Temari for saying this.

(3) Ino was only aware of Sai and Karui coming to the séance until that moment.

(4) Homika is the name of the secretary who would eventually give Gaara the note that said that he had a call from Konoha waiting for him.

(5) Asuma's favorite phrase really is 'Not right now!'.

(6) Yay technology!

(7) He was seriously roughed up at the time, remember?

(8) At this point in time, it was thought in the Land of Fire that males would never be raped.

(9) This will come up in a future 'Harold' chapter.

(10) In addition to learning that fate isn't set in stone, Neji learned another valuable lesson that day; if you hurt Hinata, then Naruto will hurt you. HARD.

(11) Also, 'ma'am' would have been more accurate.

(12) Kurenai thought that Naruto was being really sweet by 'avenging' Hinata. Also, Kurenai is a MAJOR supporter of the idea of Naruto and Hinata being together.

Well there's chapter eight done and over with. The next chapter will revolve primarily around Neji, specifically his tragic early childhood in regards to him losing his father. Mention will also be made to the bitter attitude that Neji sported from then up until Naruto knocked some sense into him during their first go at the chunnin exams.

Shukaku was right. It should have been Baki. Kurama also makes a very compelling argument concerning Tenten.