The shop darkened. The high sun descended toward the mountains on the horizon. Grey-pink clouds gathered over the edge of the world.

"Guh." Tayuya sighed heavily. "Fine. I admit defeat." She gathered up the pieces and placed them back in the bag.

"You shouldn't do that so often," Shikamaru remarked casually. He leaned back in his chair. "Admitting defeat in the field is very dangerous."

Tayuya raised an eyebrow. "There's a difference between a game between friends and a battle in the field. You bet your ass I wouldn't give up if this was a real fight."

"What's the difference?" Shikamaru asked, his eyebrows rising.

"For one thing, attack and defense isn't absolute. For another, I'm not fucking over my buddies in the field, you know?" Tayuya straightened. Her finger flicked over the king, reversing the side. "A game like this, on the other hand, has a clear winner and loser. A game like this depends very much on people following the rules. But me? Something I ain't known for is following the fucking rules."

"Explain your loss however you like. It's still my four-hundredth-sixtieth win." Shikamaru smirked. He leaned forward at the table, studying the board. "Without a hitch this time, I might add. It seems like you're taking it too lightly."

Tayuya shrugged her shoulders. Her hand touched the surface of her embroidered eyepatch. "You don't give a fuck."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "What gives you that idea?"

"I know you. Plenty of times I've been off my game. Hangovers, shitfaced drunk. Crushing on ero-nin. Whatever the hell you care to call it." Tayuya shrugged her shoulders. "You don't give a fuck if I am off my game or not, right?"

Shikamaru opened his mouth. He hesitated, and then finally stated, "I really do. But I'm the same way, right?"

"You're still in the midst of mooning after that Sand woman, right?" Tayuya asked. "But I don't think it's ever affected your performance."

Shikamaru leaned back in his chair. He regarded Tayuya with a patient expression. "Yes, that's probably true."

"Maybe it shouldn't be." Tayuya set the piece into the bag. She exhaled. "Sorry. I'm in a shitty mood. Comes with failing a mission."

Shikamaru frowned. "Eh?"

Tayuya looked down. "Look, I don't—didn't—mean that. Shitty week. Lot of bad stuff going on. I apologize." She ran her hand through her hair.

Shikamaru looked at Tayuya with a raised eyebrow. He started to speak again.

The bell at the door of the shop tinkled. The glass window filled with smoke as the man stepped inside the room, pushing by one of the stalls outside the establishment.

Shikamaru's brow furrowed. "Asuma." He gathered up the stone pieces and set them in the bag.

"The hell you doing here? We just cleared out shop." Tayuya smirked.

Asuma inhaled heavily. He exhaled, letting smoke drift out through the shop. "I heard from Tsunade that you'd be here." He looked much older than usual, grey streaks running through his hair. "I can't stay too long, but I figured I'd let at least you know."

Shikamaru blinked. "Eh?" He let the piece fall from his hand.

"I'm going on a personal mission." Asuma paused. "I can't explain too many of the details, but I might not be coming back."

Tayuya's eyebrows rose.

Shikamaru stood up rapidly. "If it's that dangerous let us come with you."

"I'd be slowed down by helpers. Tsunade will probably tell you more of the details." Asuma smiled after a long pause. "I don't think I won't come back, but the possibility certainly exists."

"Tsunade let you do this?" Tayuya questioned, her eyebrow rising.

"Tsunade was the one to tell me in the first place." Asuma looked downward. His smile faltered slightly. "I'll probably come back, but if I were surer I could give you a more definite answer." He extinguished the cigarette in a nearby ashtray. His eyes narrowed. "I want you to promise me something, though. If I don't come back, don't come after the person who killed me. I don't—you have a lot to live for. Ino and Chōji too. Don't become wrapped up in this feud."

Shikamaru's brow twisted.

"Old man." Tayuya's eyes narrowed.

Asuma looked down briefly.

"If you're not coming back, can I have your cigarettes?" Tayuya held out her hand.

Asuma blinked. After a long pause, he began to laugh, loud and low. "Heh. Well, I have been trying to quit. Sure, why not?" He reached into his pocket and removed the package of cigarettes, passing it over to Tayuya.

Shikamaru gritted his teeth. "Old man, what you're doing is stupid!"

"Calm down. When's the last time you saw me break a sweat?" Asuma turned away. His grin, white-toothed, shone through the room. "I'll be back here before you know it."

Shikamaru glanced toward Tayuya.

Tayuya exhaled heavily. "Well, if you really want to catch up with him, you oughta get going, right?" She fiddled with the package of cigarettes, her expression sour. "Get the info from Tsunade and double-time it to keep up with him."

"Why did you ask for his cigarettes?" Shikamaru demanded. "Don't you think he can make it?!"

"I asked 'cause I wanted to try 'em. And also to get a look at how he was doing. His palms were sweaty as hell." Tayuya met Shikamaru's eyes. "Something's eating him up, and he may not even have a prayer at winning. You need to figure out what's going on with him before you go after him." She gathered the pieces and stuffed some more into the black bag. Her free hand picked out one of the cigarettes.

Shikamaru nodded. He glanced at the table. "I can trust you to get the pieces rounded up?"

"Sure." Tayuya smirked. "What the hell are friends for, anyway?" She sat down at the table.

Shikamaru smiled. "Thanks." He turned and walked into the chirping night, the sun dipping below the horizon.

Tayuya briefly touched her eyepatch, adjusting the leather. "You're welcome," she stated in a soft voice, looking at the package of cigarettes on the edge of the table. "I like the old bastard too."

Intention

The hospital room glimmered. The sheets, changed and unstained by blood, rested against the bed, a bright and alabaster white.

"All set!" Kōju declared. She tucked Naruto into the bed covers. Her face flushed slightly. "Um, about that date?"

Naruto tilted his head to one side. "This isn't a prank, right?"

"Why would you ask?" Kōju asked. "Can't you just trust in me a little?"

"Because others did that back at the academy." Naruto's face darkened.

"Naruto." Kōju's voice grew entirely sincere. "How long have you known me?" She leaned closer, a hint of mint in her fresh breath.

Naruto didn't answer the question. He looked upward with wide eyes at Kōju.

"I'm not going to lie to you. I promise, to all the heavenly saints there may be, that I will be there at the date. I am not a deceiver, and I do not much care for lies." Kōju straightened. Clearing her throat, she glanced toward the window. A faint half-moon ascended in the sky. "Ahem! Anyway, I best go. You need some rest." She hurried out the door, a shadow in the moonlight.

Naruto rolled over in bed. He covered his head with the pillow as he heard voices in the gloom.

"I have been assigned by Root to watch over Naruto. Your presence here is unnecessary." A calm, even-tempered voice that somehow reminded Naruto of Sasuke.

"I do not trust Root. Feel at leisure to depart, whenever you may."

Naruto recognized the second voice as belonging to Soyokaze, speaking in a soft and even voice that did not rise or fall. He turned toward the window, his brow furrowing.

"If I must use force to disarm you of your suspicions, I shall." Under the moonlight the second figure resembled an ornate doll, painted and designed with great care and attention to detail. She bore a strong resemblance to Sasuke in the look in her eyes—seemingly black and lifeless, in her case painted on.

Soyokaze made an abrupt gesture, striking downward with one arm. "I cannot trust someone wearing a mask."

"But you yourself hide your face and features." The doll smiled, a painted-on effort like ink on a painting.

Soyokaze's blue eyes flashed beneath the hood. "With all respect, that's not what I meant."

The figure's smile faded to a flat expression without any emotion, a clean painting canvas. They rested their hand against their side.

Having had enough of the discussions about his life proceeding outside his window, Naruto shuttered and locked the window rapidly. He leaned back against the pillow, frowning. For as long as he could remember his body had always slept better in the light of the moon. He lifted his hand, focusing his energies on the miniature Whirling Bullet.

The winds screeched loudly, screamed, but fell still after only a moment's pause. They escaped, sending the bedsheets into disarray and disorder. A hot wind issued from the tips of Naruto's palms.

Naruto gritted his teeth. He lowered his arm. Scars ran up his palm, pieces of flesh cut away by the whirling winds without concentration or focus. Still not fixed, then. He exhaled heavily. He leaned back in the bed, his eyes narrowed. I hate feeling so helpless.

Seems ya do need some help with that problem, kid. Genkuro, seemingly content to remain in the form of a beautiful woman in a silver kimono instead of her typical immense form, paced behind the bars of the cage. It ain't what I gave ya, so ya screwed up pretty bad. I didn't try ta screw ya over, ya see. She gestured to one side. A whirling bullet formed on her hand. Well, as a bein' of pure energy, it's pretty simple, eh? She lowered her hand. If I were made of the same stuff as mortals, it would probably be more troublesome.

Naruto rolled his eyes heavenward. If you just came here to taunt me, I do need to get to sleep.

Genkuro accepted this argument. She receded backward in the cage, silver light dancing around her body.

But since you're here, there are things I've been meaning to ask you. Was that guy—Shishi or whatever—a shinigami? Naruto thought. He lay flat in the bed.

Yeah, of one type or another. Genkuro inclined her head. She brushed down her kimono briefly.

Did you know him? Naruto went on. His voice or something?

Genkuro shook her head. Nope. Not even a guess at who that old man is. Havin' said that, he was damn strong—a sight stronger'n most anythin' in this world, and most'a the shinigami I've heard of. Hell, even if I was united with my other half I might have troubles fightin' him.

Naruto exhaled. That's good. At least I'm not a failure of a Hokage for being unable to take him on. He hesitated. You're willing to work with me, right?

I gave ya a Tailed Beast Bomb, didn't I? Kitsune-Tama-Bi ain't exactly easy to perform, and I used that on yer behalf. Not mine. Genkuro yawned. I ain't gonna betray ya. Heck, I've even got a little attached ta ya. Yer an interestin' kid. But that applies only insofar as ya don't get knocked out or injured. She turned to one side. Her hand gestured briefly. A saucer of sake formed between her fingers. She took a long sip, exhaling loudly. Cloudberries are nice this time 'a year. Yer probably not old enough, but when the time comes, I wouldn't mind havin' a drink with ya. This stuff is just visualized. It really ain't the same as good sake. Sniffing, she let the sake drip along her lips. Chilled. Right temperature. She nodded after a pause. Burns on the way down just right—

Naruto blinked. Wait. What do you mean? He leaned upward in bed. You can't escape me, right? He stared at the image of the cell in his mind. You can't, right?

The seal only partly applies if you get knocked out, and if the circumstances are right—not sayin' what those circumstances are, mind ya—I can even get mostly free. And if that happens, this village is gone. I'll be wiping it off the map for the shame I've experienced. I am not like you. I can't forgive two hundred years of imprisonment. At heart I'm a hunter. Something that wants to hunt and eat. That's in my nature. So of course, I want to run free. I want to hunt. But if Hidden Leaf continues to exist, I'll never be free. Foxes don't like hen houses. That's why they steal in and eat hens. Genkuro inspected her fingernails, her eyes turning toward Naruto after a long pause. A silvery fire burned in their depths. So fer the sake of these fallible humans you love so much, don't screw up. A cackling laughter echoed through the prison cell. Slowly, the image of the cell faded from Naruto's awareness, the visualization of its depths fading from his mind until he could no longer see the darkness.

Naruto groaned aloud. He rolled to one side in the bed, vainly seeking a slumber that he suspected would yet elude him.

A/N: Apologies about the slowness of these chapters. To get to where I'm going, it's going to take a while, so please have patience with set-up chapters of this nature. As always, thanks for reading.