"He what?!"

Had Tsunade not already partaken in her morning cup of sake, Yamato's blatantly loud outburst would've seriously grated her nerves and ears. As it was, he only mildly irritated them. But. She. Was. Grumpy.

"Oh, don't get your panties in a twist, Yamato." She admonished. "Kakashi's a big boy, and he can take care of himself."

"That's not what worries me." The dark-eyed man mumbled, looking unreasonably distressed.

"Suna, huh?" Shikamaru chose that precise moment to pipe in from his slouched position against the wall. Despite his bored expression, Tsunade could clearly see the shrewdness gleaming in his eyes. She was already so done with this.

"That's what he said." She confirmed.

Ah there. The signature Nara sigh. "He does realise that I'm the official Konoha liaison and ambassador to Suna, and that any such plans of visitations are negotiated through me."

"Not to mention your affiliation with Temari, I get it Nara." She waved a tired hand.

"So?"

"Yes?" She said rather patiently, all things considered.

"Where is he really?"

Tsunade gave herself approximately three seconds of contemplation before letting out a gruff sigh. "Damn Hatake, demanding me to step up when the least he could've done is come up with a convincing lie… I'm too old for these games." She grumbled into her bosom before flicking her eyes up accusingly at Shikamaru. "Especially with minds like yours poking around Nara. And an over-protective grown man for Kami's sake."

"Tsunade-sama, what is really going on?"

There goes Yamato again. Bloody Mother-hen.

"Ugh. Fine. It's not my problem. This doesn't leave the room, got it?" Honey eyes bored into her subordinates as she received two curt nods. "Sasuke came by the village and took some rather unorthodox steps in order to approve a mission, which resulted in an impromptu Team Seven reunion. Apparently."

There was a moment of silence before it was broken by a particularly sorry sounding voice.

"Team Seven, huh?"

"Oh, don't give me that face Yamato. You should be thankful you were kept out of that shit-show. Bloody Uchiha." Her hand itched for another cup of sake. Well, with Shizune not around, it couldn't hurt. Now where did Kakashi keep his stash?

"What did Sasuke do? Why does he need them?" Shikamaru spoke levelly, but his creased brow betrayed his curiosity.

Tsunade let a coy smile stretch across her face in amusement. "And here I thought such details would be too troublesome for you, Shikamaru."

She was rewarded with a blank stare and deadpanned voice. "Troublesome is Team Seven's default. I accepted as much a long time ago."

Tsunade swallowed a small huff. Well that was nowhere near entertaining enough to distract her from her bad mood. She'll have to focus on Yamato next time. "To hell with it. You're not even supposed to know this much, may as well have two more minds on my side."

She waited until they both stood a little straighter, then continued. "Sasuke abducted Sakura for a so-called mission, so Kakashi and Naruto tracked them down to bring them back. And then somehow that idiot Hatake decided he could skip town on being Hokage and go gallivanting with his old students and leave me with the brunt work!"

"He kidnapped Sakura?"

"Troublesome."

"Yes well, Kakashi is still trying to work out just what exactly Sasuke is trying to achieve. I'm still waiting on details from him so I know just exactly what mess he's gotten us all into this time." She leaned back in her chair and cast a gaze out the window.

It was a miserable looking day. The clouds were thick and a persistent frosty wind had picked up. She hated working in winter. It was the perfect weather for drinking hot sake and not talking to anyone. Instead, she was here, sitting in Hatake's absurdly comfortable chair and cleaning up his mess. The things she does for that team. Honestly.

"So then, what's the plan?"

Right. Back to business. Trust Shikamaru to keep the ball rolling. If he had to work, they all had to. "Nara, you're in charge of whatever it is you're usually in charge of. And find a damned better lie than the one Kakashi came up with to make sense of their ridiculous disappearance."

"Yes ma'am." With a lazy dip of the head, the Nara departed.

"Yamato."

"Tsunade-sama." Her favourite distressed Wood-user stood to attention.

"Go fetch Sai and keep your schedules clear. As soon as I know what the hell that Uchiha brat is up to, we're launching our own investigation. Got it?"

"Yes Tsunade-sama."

Ah. That put a brief spring in his step. It was almost enough to bring an amused smile to her face. Almost. "And someone bring me some sake!"

Naruto was feeling great. Not only did he have a surprisingly great night's sleep (with the appropriate amount of covers, thank you Sakura-chan!), but he was now being treated to a breakfast of ramen with his teammates by his side – perhaps grudgingly, in the case of Sasuke. But Teme always seemed to have some figurative item shoved up his butt at any given time, so he wouldn't be taking that part personally.

They had checked out of the dingy tavern in the early hours of the morning, and by some miraculous stroke of pure luck, the only place open was in fact the ramen bar that still hadn't closed up shop from the night before. Hence, Breakfast Ramen! Naruto simply couldn't keep the smug, self-satisfied grin from his face. How could he not, when he was practically living the dream with his old team back together and performing a daring mission. Wait. Hang on, Teme was talking, or well, grunting. I was supposed to be listening to this part damnit! Oh Ramen, how could you betray me?

" – Orochimaru's. I intend for us to reach it and apprehend it before it can fall into the wrong hands."

Naruto choked on his noodles as he heard the name Orochimaru. Not that nasty lizard-man again! "Wait wait, what's Orochimaru's? What is it we're picking up?" he interrupted through his sputtering.

Naruto saw three pairs of unimpressed eyes zone in on him, and felt Sakura-chan lightly kick his shin under the table.

"Pay attention Naruto. I highly doubt Sasuke is going to want to repeat himself." Kakashi scolded blithely. "It's been hard enough to get this far as it is."

Naruto felt some relief when Sasuke turned his glare momentarily over to their ex-sensei. Thank goodness the ramen bar was deserted, otherwise they would likely be attracting attention with the inferno of hell Sasuke was trying to unleash onto Kakashi via eye contact.

"We're not 'picking up' anything." Sasuke corrected sharply, turning his gaze back to him. "It's a seal, and cannot be so easily removed. And whatever its guarding, we have to be prepared to face it."

"A seal?" Naruto perked. "Well, I'm nowhere near as good as Pervy-Sage, but I'm sure I picked up something from him. Maybe I can take a look at it?"

"It's not that simple, Naruto." Everyone raised their eyebrows at Sasuke addressing Naruto by his name so tiredly. Damn. He's serious.

Sasuke tensed his jaw before addressing the group at large, "It's an ancient seal. One that requires an immense chakra supply to release it. Those who try without being willing to pay the price, have their chakra sucked dry from them, and perish. It's a seal that ensures that only those powerful and skilled enough to release it will be worthy to have what its protecting. It's not about just quantity, it's about perfect control. I'm sure it was one of Orochimaru's ploys; entrusting his legacy to only those he deemed deserving."

There was a brief moment of silence where they all absorbed what Sasuke had just revealed.

Then.

"That's why you need me. My Byakugou?" Sakura spoke softly, absently bringing a head up to touch her purple rhombus.

Kakashi shifted his hardened focus directly onto Sasuke now, and Sasuke hid his grimace with a brief nod, but Naruto caught it all. He didn't like where this was going.

"I believe that your precise chakra control and access to your extensive reserves will be instrumental in releasing this seal. You will succeed where everyone else has failed. It can be no other." Sasuke confirmed, his attention all on Sakura as she took in the news with wide but slowly comprehending eyes.

Naruto furrowed his brows. "Why don't we just combine our chakra and blow the damn thing?"

"The seal is far more intelligent than you, Dobe." Sasuke snipped in reply. "It only accepts one chakra signature at a time, and won't be so easily destroyed. Believe me, I've tried. Besides, I don't believe it would be wise to simply destroy such a powerful seal…"

"You think that in case we don't like what we find, we should be able to re-seal it?" Kakashi finished for him in a tone Naruto hadn't quite heard from him since the war. Kakashi was tense, and rightly so, back in his commanding persona. Naruto suddenly didn't feel like any more ramen.

"Hn."

"It would make the most sense. And knowing Orochimaru, if what we do find beyond that seal is some biological freak of nature, I can ascertain how much of a threat it is before we take it anywhere, or attempt to destroy it." Sakura nodded resolutely, despite her eyes being glued to the half-empty ceramic bowl before her, lost in thought.

Naruto whirled between the three of his teammates, confused and aghast. Why was no one saying anything about the real issue here?

"But we don't know anything about how this seal will react to you Sakura-chan!" He finally exploded, startling his pink-haired friend beside him. "What if it hurts you? Or completely drains you too? Sasuke said it kills people to attempt to access it! And who knows what freaky shit Orochimaru put up in that seal. You could die! We can't expect you to sacrifice yourself for that thing. I don't care who is asking!"

His temper was reaching new heights the more he spoke, but he couldn't control the betrayal he was feeling from Sasuke in this moment. From all his team. How could they just let Sakura take the burden of responsibility in potentially sacrificing herself for this supposed weapon?!

"It's okay Naruto. I can't be killed that easily, you know. Tsunade-shishou would murder me if I died over something so simple." She said light-heartedly, although Naruto could tell that she couldn't herself find the humour in her voice.

"Sasuke!" Naruto growled, rounding on his almost-brother. "How dare you ask Sakura to risk her life for some Orochimaru crap- "

"Naruto!" Kakashi's commanding voice cracked like thunder over the group. "Calm down. I'll study the seal before Sakura goes anywhere near it. Your father and Jiraiya taught me some fuinjustu, and their skills were unmatched in that area. Trust that I won't let anyone touch it, should it prove to be more than we can handle."

Naruto eyed Kakashi warily, noting the firm set of his shoulders and coolness of his grey eyes. But it did little to distract from his frustration at Sasuke, at this entire situation. "I don't like this."

"No one asked you to come, Dobe."

That was the final straw that broke him. Rounding furious blue eyes to impassive onyx, Naruto blasted. "Oh yeah? Well I say you're pretty damn lucky to have me and Kakashi here right now, bastard. What were you going to do if the seal was a trap? You would be sentencing Sakura to her death!"

"Naruto, enough!" a chakra laced fist pounded the table, splintering into her knuckles and deafening the group into silence. "I'm not being forced into anything here, so I don't need you to fight a non-existent battle on my behalf. I appreciate your concern, I truly do. But we can't risk such an unknown potential weapon falling into the wrong hands. And I am willing to do what it takes to protect my village and my friends."

Blazing green eyes bored into his own, and despite the conviction he saw in them, Naruto knew Sakura well enough to know she was asking him to trust her. He wilted slightly under her stare. Not from fear, but rather defeat.

"We just want to protect you too, Sakura. You're our friend, you know…"

"I know dummy." She said softly, taking his hand in hers. "Which is why I know I'll be fine. Cause I have you lot to watch my back." She smiled, eyeing each of the men at their small table, willing them to trust her.

Naruto reversed their grip and clutched her hand tightly in his. "Yeah, believe it, Sakura-chan."

He smiled at her, bright and sunny and sure. Sakura reflected his smile with her own grateful one. As she turned to say something to Kakashi, Naruto twisted back to stare at Sasuke. He didn't need words with him. They both knew what they were thinking – that they weren't going to let a thing happen to Sakura. Or else, they'd both be losing more than an arm next time.

"Yamato-taichou. To what do I owe the invasion?"

Yamato held back a sigh. "To what do I owe the 'pleasure', Sai. That is usually the correct phrasing."

Inquisitive coal eyes locked onto his own, and Yamato could physically see the trail of thought cross his mind. He braced himself against Sai's next reply.

"I see. So, I must lie to you upon your unwanted arrival in my private residence?"

This time Yamato did let out a sigh befitting his current state of exhaustion-by-teammates. "No Sai, you don't need to lie. Just… never mind. I am here on business but it is… delicate. May I come in?"

It was unsurprising that Sai immediately straightened and nodded in understanding, letting Yamato enter his small apartment complex and close the door behind them. "Does this have something to do with Ugly and Dickless' disappearance along with the Hokage? Beautiful was quite vocal about her annoyance at Sakura's untimely leave, as she had sworn to go on a spa holiday with her. She had compiled a list of several activities for which they need to accomplish as women friends, together. It is extensive."

Yamato scratched the back of his head. Sai had come a long way with his social skills, and it was in ways endearing that he seemed to overshare now. But Yamato wasn't sure if that was his books' influence or the Yamanaka's. She, as Yamato had learned on an unfortunate night out with Sakura and the team, was an inherent over-sharer. He still couldn't look Ibiki in the eye to this day. Darn gossip.

"Right. Yes, it is relating to that, but I'm afraid you won't be able to tell Ino-san any of this."

"Understood Taichou." Sai nodded. "So, what has our team done this time?"

Yamato allowed a rue smile to cross his features. Trust Sai to feel just as fondly exasperated by their team as he did. As Shikamaru had said, their team's default was indeed 'troublesome'.

"Well, that's essentially what we're going to find out. It seems they themselves left without the proper details on this one." He bit back the part about his Senpai recklessly abandoning both his post and his guards, and sending him on a wild goose chase for the past day and a half. Deep breaths. You can scold him when you catch him. Sakura will help hold him down.

"Hmm, therefore, it is yet again up to us to stop them from going over the top with whatever unnecessarily complicated plan they have, and bring them back in one piece? Preferably to be reprimanded by the appropriate parties, but then be let off with a marginally disproportionate version of punishment?" Sai's smile was fond despite his bored tone. Or perhaps it was gleeful. Yamato was still having trouble picking out exactly what emotions looked like on Sai's pale features.

"More or less."

"I'll pack my brushes."

Shikamaru all but groaned as he pushed open the Hokage office doors with the toe of his sandal, lamenting his situation with his entire being. Tsunade-sama would not be pleased. He found her reclined, but tight-lipped as she listened to a reporting chunin team, post-mission. Hinata was among them, looking tired but in good spirits.

Ah. He remembered that team. Simple escort mission, paranoid client. Looks like they made it back fine. Hinata would probably be disappointed to learn Naruto skipped town though.

Tsunade-sama lazily waved hand with a stern, "Good job. Report to the hospital for check-ups. Dismissed."

Exchanging a small smile with Hinata as she passed by, Shikamaru winced at the thought of the collective of scorned women Team Seven had left behind in their wake. Ino had already been nagging him if 'he knew that Forehead was being sent on a mission. And how come he didn't remind Hokage-sama that they had plans, so obviously she couldn't go?!' Now Hinata would no doubt be joining the fray, with her beloved 'Naruto-kun' gone walk-abouts, and so close to their anniversary. Ugh, the fact he even knew all that bothered him. This job had given him far too much insider knowledge. It made him want to take a shower.

"Nara!"

Right. And let's not forget the most scorned woman of them all.

"Hai, Hokage-sama."

"Report."

"Well, you're probably not going to like this but… Suna is actually a good cover story." He paused and waited for a flying projectile or curse, and was infinitely grateful all he received was a delicately raised blonde eyebrow. Right. Continuing on. "It fits the profile that the three of them would go together. Sakura regularly makes trips for their medical program, as you know, and is a trusted friend to Suna. Naruto is basically the poster-boy for Suna-Konoha relations, so that's not a hard sell. And as for the Rokudaime being in attendance, well."

Here, he took a steadying breath. "Suna is currently in preparations for their Festival of – " he briefly looked back at the report in his hand " – Sand… Believe it or not Kakashi-sama has attended it every year previously, so it wouldn't be too far of a stretch to say he went a little early this year."

Shikamaru received a flat stare that echoed his own. "I hate that brat." Tsunade grumbled.

Shikamaru couldn't say he disagreed in that moment. He was the one who had to tell Tsunade-sama about the impending meeting with the Fire Daimyo's son. Everyone hated that guy. More money than he knew what to do with, and used it to waste everyone's time. This wasn't going to be pretty. Just as he drew a reluctant breath to continue his report, he was interrupted by a small puff of smoke.

"Forgive the intrusion, Hime. But I bare news from Sakura-san."

Saved by the Slug! Shikamaru quickly made sure the door was closed and listened intently to their Team Seven update. He couldn't say he liked the new developments.

"Shikamaru, clear my schedule for the day and get Yamato and Sai to meet me at T&I." The murderous gleam in the Hokage's eye was unmistakable. "We're going to hunt a snake."

Troublesome.

A/N: Half of this chapter wasn't even part of the plan, but then I just got carried away because Tsunade and Shikamaru are some of my favourites to write. They're both just so DONE. And Yamato is just a sweetheart. I had a lot of fun with this chapter, I hope you had fun reading it!