Sadly no Shikatema interactions in this chapter, but soon.
The very ground this woman walks on has more than a few followers. Sen and Yome made it in the story!
This chapter is rightfully called- Hangover.
Three months ago.
"And you're sure it's him?"
Temari turned a questionable look to her Konoha contact, Sen.
A dirty blonde Suna agent who had moved to the city a few months back under a false name and forged official documents. Before that she had trained in Suna, under Temari, with the code name Feather. An orphan at four, Sen had been chosen to train at age fourteen after a unfortunate run-in with a Suna officer. Temari had been there alongside her brother, walking the streets of what used to be her home, undercover, and something had compelled her to take the young girl along with her. The Suna officer didn't survive the encounter.
With no family or loved ones, she was a child who would not be missed if taken.
Many agents usually were.
Unwanted. Unloved. Forgettable people.
Their existence, only meant to serve those above them.
Her current mission, reconnaissance on the agents of Konoha. Tasked to follow, know, and mark down everything about Konoha, politics to agents, in preparation for Temari's arrival a couple weeks back. With the help of a few inside contacts, things were going accord to plan.
"Of course I am, Mistress" Sen nodded firmly to her "I've been assigned to this area for months, just like you ordered, and now that Puppet has been able to hack into their disclosed files, I am sure that he is their main agent" she glanced through a scope set beside her apartment bookcase, adjusting the lens as she continued "though I don't really understand why, he really doesn't do much. Quite the lazy man actually" Sen leaned back, grabbing the glass of wine she had poured for them and took a sip "take a look for yourself" Temari looked from her to the scope before stepping forward, setting her full glass on the windowsill.
Their apartment location set across from agent Shikamaru Nara.
Looking through the lens her brows furrowed quickly. Her comrade seemed to have forgotten to mention the man had just showered and was stepping out of a steaming bathroom. Brushing his slick wet shoulder length hair back, he was only dressed in a towel around his narrow waist. He rubbed a hand over the dark stubble of his chin and looked at himself in the mirror.
Temari leaned back, adjusting the lens for a closer look and glanced back with narrowed eyes, focusing. He stood before a full length mirror, turning and eyeing a healing scar on the side of his torso, finger skimming the outside of the red stitched line. The lean lines of his torso tensed with his movement and she gazed past the scar briefly. She almost didn't notice her inhale when he grabbed the edge of his towel to readjust it.
His brows furrowed and he made a face of what looked like to be a displeased groan. He strode from the bedroom, hand holding the edge of the towel firmly, much to her disappointing need to satisfy her curiosity, and passing the blind spot in the apartment, reappearing in the living room. He grabbed the phone on his table, answering a call and disappeared through the blind spot again.
As she remained quite, engrossed in observing, Sen chuckled behind her, at first quietly, before letting the realization bubble into a full blown giggle.
"He's nice to look at, don't you think, Mistress?" Sen grinned broadly, leaning against her kitchen counter "especially with his shirt off" Temari cleared her throat grabbing the glass of wine Sen had given her and taking a long quiet sip as she gave her comrade a reserved look. Sen wasn't wrong, but she'd die before admitting the man was easy on the eyes.
"He was shot, skidded along the left side of his torso, looks to be healing well" Temari observed with a hum, wondering where he'd been to get shot in the first place. She tightens the grip on her glass and made her way to Sen, before she gave herself away for looking any longer.
"Must have been a rough day for him" Sen muttered and sat straight as she approached, putting her glass down, Sen grabbing her tablet that was on the counter and pulled up her notes "His previous mission, I believe, took him to river country, where the Konohan troops first entered. A few days after you passed the border. He hadn't been home in two weeks and just came back last night while you were at Sasori's place" Sen continued taking another sip, realizing something "I'll see with Shira later about what he was doing there, but my guess was staying up to date with the move forward into Wind country" Temari shook her head.
"I'll handle that, you focus on your end of the mission" Temari sat on the barstool next to her and crossed her legs "what else have you gathered on him?" She tapped the countertop impatiently.
"Like I said, lazy man" Sen shrugged, setting the tablet down for her to see "he sleeps, he eats, he smokes, also plays this game a lot as well" Temari raised a brow, curiosity sparked about the outside habits of another agent.
She herself didn't do much outside her work, always on constant guard and prepared for anything back at her base in Suna's hidden underground. She had been given her task, and she planned to see it through. A duty to not just her country, but to Gaara, her youngest brother who had been denied any normalcy since losing his siblings nearly fifteen years ago. Being in Konoha for a couple of weeks now, she'd taken to the habit of watching common people go about there day. Driving to work, going out to lunch, playing in the parks, enjoying what the day had to offer. Living normal lives, unaware of the hell that lied outside their countries borders. What a beautiful lie they told.
"Describe it" she told Sen.
"It's made of wooden pieces" Sen described to her, looking on confused "it's played on a checkered board, I'm not very sure what it is called, looks rather boring though"
"Shoji?" Temari grabbed the tablet from her and searched the game. Sen raised a brow and looked at the screen with a nod "it's a tactical game, many of the majors and elders who visited my father would play this with him when I was younger. He liked the game, said it helped calm him and focus on priorities, but I also thought it was rather boring when he lectured me about how to play" she muttered and Sen nodded slowly, knowing Temari never spoke much about her youth. It was more like bits and pieces she would randomly recall at time like this. Sen knew who she was, and what had happened to her, she was one of the very few who had been trusted to know the secret of the late Lord and Lady of Suna.
"So he plays a game meant for military training?" Sen asked.
"It isn't for training, it's just a game to some" Temari shook her head finishing off the glass of wine and set it down for another "What else?" She changed the subject, changed her mood, and Sen nodded quickly, pulling up a assortment of pictures to continue. Each labeled with a agent's names and profile pictures, each with its own attachment of notes and photos taken over the past few months.
"Had a girlfriend, or at least I think it was his girlfriend" Sen added, setting the tablet down to stand up, not seeing the blank look entering Temari's face "I believe they broke up a few weeks back before he left. It was quite the scene" Sen shrugged walking towards the fridge and back with a half empty bottle of wine.
"I meant work wise not about his personal life, Sen" Temari rolled her eyes, grabbing her newly filled cup and sipping generously. The past two weeks had been draining for even someone like her.
"His personal life is his work life. The woman was from the agency as well, a forensic assistant" Sen glanced at her wine "Shiki or Shiho I think" she looked up with a sigh "but I'm curious as to why they split, they seemed very nice together"
"Not our concern" Temari rolled her eyes and leaned on her fist.
"I'm invested" Sen whined.
"Be invested in your mission, not some useless gossip" Temari barked back.
"Temari you asked to pick them off, find the one who leads and gather as much as we can on them" Sen pointed to the window "he's the leader. Makes all the plans, makes all the calls, second to their director. If anyone knows what's going on, it's him" Temari glanced back to the window, standing and returning to the scope "He is your priority one target" Sen called after her, though Temari only half listened, something new catching her attention. A leggy long haired blonde woman was strutting around his apartment now, looking to be yelling or scolding the man.
"Who's the blonde?" Temari asked as Sen came to her side.
"Oh that's agent Ino Yamanaka. She's said to be the eyes and ears of the division, very observant, very easy to piss off. Yome keeps eyes on her most days" Sen confirmed as she squinted her eyes to look out the open blinds "she also lives in the apartment number across from his place. They've known each other since childhood I've been told" Temari gave a grunt as a response, a close relationship wasn't something agents normally got to have. Seems her target wasn't like any others.
He wasn't alone.
The blonde grabbed the side of Shikamaru's shirt, with some protest from him, and gave his wound a inspection. She finished and left to head into the kitchen leaving the agent to give a defeated sigh and take his shirt off, looking to be mumbling under his breath.
"Mistress?" Sen murmured beside her "Why are you still looking?"
"Aren't you going to be late for your job?" Temari grumbled back to her, ignoring the possible blush to her cheeks. She'd admit he had a better physique than some of her previous targets.
"I might slip on drool on my way out" Sen teased, enjoying the little slip of Temari's usual stoic demeanor.
"Fuck off" Temari snapped defensively, drowned out by the laughter.
"You know" she just had to poke the bear and leaned closer to Temari "I've seen him once or twice in the act, by accident of course" Sen drew out with a sly grin "He seems fun, very hands on, very selfless" Temari narrowed her eyes into the lens "if the mission calls for it, I'll gladly offer myself for the part" Sen hid a smug look behind her glass and took a final sip, ignoring the irritated glare from her boss.
"You are filthy" Temari muttered.
"Sasori's friend thinks so too" she laughed lightly, Temari shaking her head and trying her best to hide her urge to toss the wine glass back at her. Sen laughed wholeheartedly and set her glass in the sink "you said to watch our targets closely"
"I didn't mean that close" Temari huffed, watching her comrade disappear into her bedroom and come out with a long soft tan coat for her revealing red dress and with a grin as sly as a fox to finish the look.
"I've seen you do much worse, Mistress. Trust me, you'd break the poor man" Sen winked and grabbed her crimson heels heading to the front door while looking back to Temari "Yome will be home soon, she'll update you on the others. Until then enjoy the show"
"Why isn't she here now?" Temari dodged her last remark with a stern scowl, perfectly irritated now, and impatient.
"Because Shira just got here and doesn't have to report until tonight" Sen concluded calmly, still amused however "let the two have some time together, they haven't seen each other in months since we left Suna" having pushed her playful energy down she quickly got a hold of the severity of Temari's gaze. One that could freeze an enemy with little effort.
"I have allowed you two to take the lead in this mission while I wasn't here" she spoke sternly and made it clear that she was serious as she stalked towards Sen "but you now answer to me, you obey me, no one else"
"Right, Mistress" Sen looked down, nervous now, bowing her head.
"Seems you've forgotten that" Temari hushed lowly.
"Of course not" Sen argued back, catching the glare for a moment and licking her red painted lips quietly, uncomfortable under the look. Putting a hand to the door beside Sen's face, Temari leaned in close to her.
"Tell Yome she has twenty minutes to be here. She's on my not not her own. As for you keep our allies satisfied and silent, remember what you are doing here, Feather, and who you're doing it for" Sen nodded shortly and responded back when Temari turned away.
"Understood, Mistress"
2:23 am, Saturday.
Location: Konoha intel division, headquarters, medical wing.
Sakura quickly moved from Shikamaru's strapped body to the lab desk behind her, working quickly to grab an assortment of liquids. Beside her Lee moved from Shikamaru to Choji, having been at Kiba's side when he first entered the agency's headquarters.
"Lee" Sakura called back behind her "I'm going to need you to hold them down when I injected this into their arms" Lee looked from her to the strapped men and back, confused.
"But Sakura, they are already strapped" Lee hesitated looking from Choji to Kiba, both men groaning and sweating through their cloths.
"I know, but when this hits whatever they have coursing through them is going to make them jerk around" Sakura explained urgently ripping the cap off the needle and stepping towards Shikamaru's side. His body jerked off the table and the mumbled words came out through bared teeth.
"I should have went in sooner" Lee held down his comrade's arm, while Sakura ripped his sleeve open "it is my fault they were hurt"
"Feel sorry later" Sakura scolded and pricked the blue vein "right now we have to focus on sedating them"
Lee had found them, all three alive and convulsing for a unknown reason. He almost hadn't gone into the building, but when he had noticed three women leaving into the back alleyway he had parked in, a bad feeling compelled him to keep watch. The car that had been parked there rumbled smoothly to life and just sat, waiting. A fourth had left from the back soon after, entering and leaving in the parked plateless car and when he didn't see anyone else he voted to leave his post and search for his team, instead of following.
His call had been right.
With a final jerk, his body went slack and Shikamaru passed out. Sakura blew out a relieved sigh and went to Choji next, repeating with Kiba last and when all three were still and sedated, Sakura moved away to keep her eyes locked to the monitors.
"Sakura" waiting outside, Tenten was quick to rush over to the medic, behind her Neji followed. The two had gotten a call from Lee while he had been driving his team back. Now at the agency they both wore a worried look watching their sleeping comrades.
"They'll be fine" Sakura reassured them with a sigh.
"What happened?" Neji glanced between the men and began to eye the monitors.
"Poisoned" Sakura concluded, grabbing the vials of blood she had taken "I'll send this down to the lab to see if they can figure out what it is, but this blend of antibiotics and sedatives seems to be working for now" she glanced back at them "I'd like to see what kind of long term effects this poison can have or if they even remember anything"
"It's actually venom, not poison" the group turned from each other to look at Shino, hands in his oversized hoodie pockets, hood wrapped snuggly over his messy hair, and dark shaded glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. His presence was sudden and everyone had turned to look at him as he continued "judging by the screams and prolonged state of fear induced movements, I'd say a Black Sun Scorpion from the country of Wind" he pushed his glasses up his nose, unfazed by the shocked stares of the group "it's a Suna special forces form of psychological torture and interrogation for criminals and enemies. The scorpion's venom, given in small doses, doesn't kill, but it can cause vivid hallucinations. However, larger quantities can, for some, lead to permanent brain damage" Shino quieted narrowing his eyes drawing out a thoughtful hum as he tapped his chin "but you'd need more than one scorpion to achieve that scenario, because the venom expires shortly after it is taken from the stinger" he shrugged "and they'd have to be imported, because only a small part of Wind country even has them. They are a rare species and hard to come by" he finished, the room silent for a long moment.
"How do you know that, Shino?" TenTen asked slowly.
"I tried to buy one once from the black market" Shino muttered and walked away from the door, down the hall and leaving the others to watch his quiet escape. Sakura shut her eyes and tightened her grip on the vials.
"We'll know more when they wake up" Sakura muttered and left the room. Her invading thoughts of Sasuke's disappearance returning with each worried step out the door.
He had been missing for longer than usual.
Eleven years ago.
Shikamaru Nara- Age Twelve
"Hurts doesn't it?"
"No" Shikamaru lied, rolling off his back with a groan and sitting up to look at his mentor. Asuma chuckled and stepped away from the mat. After school Martial arts training was one of the most daunting tasks of his day, but anything beat having to train under the dojo master Gai Sensei or doing troublesome college level homework assigned by his mother.
Asuma Saratobi was a close family friend, a military comrade with his father during the third war nearly sixteen years ago. Aside from that, he worked at the local dojo as a instructor, with a short list of students, each one from a parent of a previous military family.
"That was called the mimic technique" Asuma glanced back with a amused expression at his student's sore look "it's a move in which you mirror your opponent and predict their move before they can deliver it" he pointed at him with a mocking stern look "You should really work on your stamina next time, Shikamaru"
"You didn't have to slam me down to prove your point, I'm going to be sore all week" Shikamaru grumbled, hearing the familiar clink of his mentor's lighter.
"You should see Choji, I could barely knock that kid off his feet when I promised him we'd go to barbecue after training" Asuma spoke past the end of the lit cigarette, amused at his student's lack of interest in training. He was quite the lazy kid.
"Choji is twice my size, of course he'd be harder to pin down" Shikamaru whined, always the supposed runt of the litter, even for a genius. The physical effort alone was a drag. Choji excelled in defensive maneuvers, though always needed a substantial reward at the end, bribery of food in order to do well seemed to work. Ino preferred to keep her hands clean and nails neatly done, but it didn't stop her from joining in from time to time to show her childhood friends up every now and then. Sasuke and Naruto made the whole lesson about them, both to stubborn to let the other get an inch ahead. Lee, well, Lee was just like their dojo sensei, same high energy, same youthful spirits, and more disturbingly, same bowl-cuts.
"Yeah, because you weight ten pounds soaking wet and have the attitude of an grumpy old man ready to kick the can" Asuma taunted back and bellowed out a laugh as he sat down on a bench.
"Har har" Shikamaru rolled his eyes, but hid the grin poorly, chuckling to himself. He stood and stretched waving away the invading smoke from the cigarette with a glare "training is such a drag"
"Everyone should know basic maneuver moves Shikamaru. You'll be training with military soon enough" Asuma patted the seat next to him to call him over.
"Only because my dad is making me" he rubbed the back of his neck and sat next to him, reaching for his water and winced when Asuma threw an arm over his shoulders and brought him close to his side.
"Don't tell me, not even a small part of you doesn't want to prove you're the best? To prove you're better than the other kids" Asuma ignored the groan of annoyance "not even Lee? Or Naruto? Or even Sasuke?"
"Asuma you're just training me to be a agent like my dad is, like you are now" as he said it, he felt Asuma tense and slowly release him casting a stunned look at his student. Shikamaru cleared his throat uncomfortably and cursed himself for speaking, it didn't take a genius to know he might have let a dangerous secret slip.
"How do you know that?" Asuma asked slowly.
"I figured him out years ago" Shikamaru huffed attempting to hide his gaze as he rubbed the back of his neck uneasily "my dad is terrible at hiding things from me and I think my mom doesn't know, probably because she's to busy nagging us to even notice when he's working late or walking around with a limp. I ruled out an affair, because he doesn't show interest in anyone but my mom. It's gross" he deadpanned with a shudder at the reminder and continued on "and he uses weird phrases when he's on the phone sometimes. Oh and he's got a gun collection he hides behind the deer feed. From what I've read a lot of it is military grade stuff" he looked back to Asuma "either he's fighting in some kind of war we don't know about or, more logically to me, he's some kind of secret special ops agent" Asuma nodded slowly and began to chuckle "what's so funny?"
"You're are going to make a fine agent, with a little more effort" he added with a calm smile, easing his nervous student "you've got the brain for it"
"It's not something I really want to do" he mumbled, the path paved by others for him to follow. Asuma hummed lowly and sat back on the bench.
"I didn't want to do it either" he huffed out a cloud of smoke, his student waving away the remains "but life is a cruel mistress. During the third war I fought against others, not because I wanted to, but because I had to. I have a duty to my country and the innocent people in it and I continue to carry the burden so that others don't have to, it is my will of Fire to protect the king" he looked down to Shikamaru, serious, but calm "if this is the route you choose to follow in the future, you won't regret it" Shikamaru nodded slowly, quiet for a moment as he looked at the patted walls and dark green gym mats around them.
"Can you show me that mimic technique again?"
7:52am, Monday.
Location: Commons District, Konoha.
Code name: Hangover
The night of hallucinations was beyond any hangover he'd ever experienced.
It wasn't painful, his body sore sure, but his mind was strained, stretched to the breaking point of reality.
Happy memories of the gentle deer behind his childhood home had morphed into nightmarish creatures with fangs and wings, running at full speed to attack him. Missed gunshots during his youth military training turned into successful hits. The calm clouds he watched blew away into crushing tornadoes of wind.
Surprisingly, his mother's deviled egg recipe still tortured him as usual, that one hadn't changed.
It was like a movie of his greatest and worse memories coming together to strike at his very core. Even in his sedated sleep he would hear, he would imagine, he could taste blood.
Fear.
It really would have been a shit way to die.
"Shikamaru!"
He knew that voice all to well.
It wasn't changed, it wasn't after him, it was familiar, almost soothing if he wanted to comfort himself in his current state. It might have been the first time, and probably last, in his life he'd admitted that Ino's voice was comforting to him.
A slam of his apartment door shutting closed and the rustle of paper bags and heels clicked on his hardwood floor woke his groggy mind. He heard Ino move around his apartment to the living room, setting her keys down on the counter, then his bedroom door squeak open. He really should have fixed that months ago, but the very thought sounded like a drag.
In his head he began counting.
Three, she entered the room in obnoxiously loud heels. Two, he heard the annoyed huff, probably at the sight of him still attempting to sleep and ignore Ino's intrusion. One, the other side of the bed dipped with the blonde leaning in and smacking his rear with full force.
"Wake up, asshole!" she growled, ripping the pillow off his head, he didn't even get a chance to groan "I leave for two days, to go visit my mom and dad, and you got shot! What's wrong with you?"
"I wasn't shot" he muffled his voice into the mattress and flinched when she smacked his sore back, lightly bruised from his kick to the chest and through the wooden door. The woman had strength in those legs, he remembered that part clearly, and a small part of him now had a new caution towards legs.
"Two days and you go and do something stupid!" Ino continued to half scold half scream at him "An unauthorized mission gone wrong, you could have gotten yourself killed, and all I got was a panicked voicemail from Lee telling me you were dying. What would I have told Auntie Yoshino?" He groaned when she brought his mother into it. Glad for a moment she hadn't called him that weekend. He was still feeling fatigued from his two day long recovery.
Whatever Sakura had given them had worked, thankfully, yet his body still felt the aches and pains of not just his fight, but the venom from a creature native to Wind leaving his body. It was as if he was suffering the most painful hangover ever, if he really had to describe it to someone.
The start of Saturday all the way into the late evening of Sunday he had been out cold, only when he awoke feeling groggy and drained was everything explained to him. Bits and pieces coming back, and strangely a flash of sharp mocking teal eyes. Tsunade would be here today, her weekend taking her away to a secret ally in Kumo, over the phone she had sounded worse yesterday than Ino did now.
"Every morning" another mumble before he sat up. Running a hand through his slick hair and with every bit of energy he could muster finally turned and stood from the bed and followed her into the living room only making it to the hallway ending before he leaned against the wall hand pressed to the growing headache "why did you have to move in next door to me?"
"Twin connection Shika" She called back from the kitchen.
"For the last time we don't have a twin connection" he sighed and fixed a half hearted glare at her "we're more like a old bickering married couple past our good years"
"I'm a joy to be around, you're a drag" Ino bit back with a huff "what would you do without me?"
"Probably sleep in for once" he murmured under his breath and gave his living room a groggy once over, everything in its place. As he made his way towards the couch he dragged his hand on the end table, the one Ino insisted he needed, and grabbed his waiting pack of cigarettes out of habit. It only took a moment to click in his mind that all he had grabbed was the pack.
He remembered she had taken his lighter, Asuma's lighter.
"Shit" he muttered, glaring at the pack in his hand.
"What did you say?" Ino called out to him.
"Nothing" he flinched when she came from behind him, coffee in hand "thanks" he muttered.
"Shut up and drink your coffee" shoving the drink in his hand she sat on the edge of the couch and drank her overly sweet latte though a straw while grabbing the remote from coffee table "you can tell me details about the unauthorized mission, when you aren't a mumbling mess anymore" she put a hand to his back and rushed his walk towards the other couch while turning the tv on. A flash of light and the news came on, both seated and watching the start of the eight am broadcast.
"Latest news from Konoha city" the reporter started, her voice inviting and calm "second generation CEO, Haku Fu, of Fu enterprises has bought out rival company, Shimaru Industries. The deal was said to be made early last week before CEO and political left wing member, Dai Shimaru, passed away from surgical complications after being targeted at his own funded rally to support his outspoken views on a rumors war in the west" Shikamaru blinked and staring intently into the screen as it flickered to a live camera.
"Any thoughts about the rumors that Fu enterprises is aiding a war in the west right now?" A reporter boldly asked Haku on his way to his office building. Beside him four burly guards took to moving away reporters and photographers for Fu to walk.
"There is no war" Fu shook his head with a laugh "our people of Fire should know better than to listen to such preposterous rumors. Especially when those rumors come from undocumented and illegal foreigners" he didn't bother to look at the reporter as he ran alongside Fu's guards to ask more questions.
"Can you say anything about the deal in which you and Dai Shimaru agreed to, the one that led to your company purchasing his after his assassination?" Fu glanced over at the reporter.
"Dai was killed by an unfortunate stroke due to complications from his surgery. He was a close friend of mine" he replied sternly.
"But he was shot" the reporter went to speak more, but was promptly pushed aside by a guard when he stepped to close with the microphone.
"No more comments" Fu called out and entered his building, leaving a mess of shouting people and flashing lights.
"Ino" Shikamaru stood from the couch and headed straight towards his room.
"Got it" Ino responded back in a heartbeat and grabbed her phone to make a call "Neji, turn on the news, we have a shit show to calm down" she began urgently and stood making her way to the kitchen.
As he dressed, settling on whatever was easiest and quickest to put on, he forced a deeper thought process to push its way through. Unfortunately for him the headache that followed was almost unbearable. He sat at the end of the bed, palms digging into his eyes to offer some mild relief.
"A part of me wishes that troublesome woman just shot me through my vest" he mumbled and nearly had a heart attack when Ino gasped.
"Oh right!" At the door Ino wore a look of excitement to big for his bedroom "you saw her! Choji told me!"
"I'm right here stop yelling" he winced and surprisingly enough Ino had two pills ready in her hand as she sat next to him.
"Well" she nudged him excitedly as he took the pills dry "we know she drugged you, Choji, and Kiba with some kind of bug venom"
"How are they?" He asked, his first priority now to make sure his team was alright.
"Choji seems ok, eating everything in sight, so he'll be fine I'm sure, and Kiba has been hauled up at Lee's place binging rom coms and crying all night" Ino grimaced "What about you? any symptoms? Aside from the painful looking headache" he leaned back on his hands and furrowed his brows.
"I don't remember much" he finally spoke after a minute "and anything I do remember is blurry" he tensed his shoulders, rightfully leaving out the part where he nearly had his ass handed to him by a woman "let's just say, It's worse than that hangover I had after Naruto's birthday last year" Ino winced at the memory "Sakura said I'd be fine with some rest, but we don't have that kind of time"
"This is why you dont do a mission without me" Ino tsked "you didn't have your eyes and ears, Shika" she emphasized her point by leaning close and widening her eyes at him.
"I had it covered, but she tricked us last minute" he muttered, recalling clearer bits and pieces as he thought through everything.
"You don't get tricked" Ino looked between his eyes, as if searching for something "Do we know who she is?" Ino asked, but knew the answer.
"She's from Suna" he confirmed and leaned away from the intrusive feeling of her gaze, as if he was laying bare before her.
"I knew it" she slammed a fist in her hand with a devious grin "Shino sent me the rest of the decoded videos last night when I was on the train. He said it was challenging to break the covers for it, but I have no idea who she was" she raised his shirt, just catching the bruised marks on his chest before he shoved it back down "heard she also kicked your ass pretty good" he huffed, looking away from her, holding his shirt firmly and let a short list of scenarios make way.
He finally let out a breath.
"You have to promise you won't tell anyone else. And when I mean promise, I mean" he raised a pinkie to her.
"This is serious" she whispered.
"Very" he sighed "it's level one"
"But only you and Tsunade have that clearance, not even Sasuke has it" she paused, took a breath and nodded as she hooked her pinkie to his. They held on for a second and the impatient game was won by Shikamaru "Well what's this big secret anyways" he let her finger go and stood making his way into the hallway, Ino on his tail.
Shikamaru stopped at the start of his hallway rug and kneeled down, lifting the end he revealed more hardwood. Upon further inspection the small creases in the floorboard lifted easily and under it a metal safe. A few ticks and it opened, grabbing the article he had found last week, he slipped it up to Ino.
"Temari Sabakuno" she whispered the name, skimming the headline in her hands.
"Officially her title is Lady Temari of Sunakagure, and not only is she considered royalty" he inhaled and blew out a breath as he stood "but that woman is technically supposed to be the Kazekage of Suna right now" he furrowed his brows deeply and shut his eyes, the start of a lingering headache haunting him.
"I thought she and her brother died" Ino blinked staring ahead as she let the paper slowly drop from her gaze "oh shit, Tsunade is going to be pissed" she shuddered at the thought.
"That's what I thought" he opted to ignore the mention of his boss "but Hidan hinted that that wasn't the case. And he was right" Shikamaru cracked his eye open to the bright light spilling through the living room window and sighed "what it doesn't say in that article is that their uncle, General Yashamaru, was a double agent for Konoha" Ino stared back at him with wide eyes and a gaping mouth "Apparently in Suna news, he kidnapped and killed them to overthrow the fourth Kazekage by force" he blinked and avoided her gaze, failing to mention one critical detail still locked away in headquarters.
"Shikamaru" she pried knowing he wasn't finished.
"Our agents were sent to aid him in bringing them to Konoha" he rubbed the back of his neck uneasily "it was a last minute change and the mission was made a dispatch, making it seem like he had killed them instead"
"Who was it?" Ino grew quiet. He didn't reply, taking a deep breath and dragging out his exhale.
"Lead Agent, Asuma Sarutobi" he muttered and closed the safe quietly, making his way back into the living room.
"And you are absolutely sure this is the woman who you saw?" Ino asked behind him. Even with fifteen years of age he could tell that the young girl, dressed in traditional robes and hair tied back in four pigtails, was the woman who had shot him.
"Yeah that's her" He sighed grabbing the remote from the coffee table "I don't know what that troublesome woman is after, but I'm sure we'll find out soon" he stared back at the muted image of Haku Fu and turned off the TV.
10:02 am, Monday.
Location: Commons District, Konoha.
Temari enjoyed mornings, the calm brisk air, the quiet serenity of the birds waking, it was peaceful. City mornings didn't start off like this. Cars drove and honked, people yelled and screamed down the block, all this before the sun even rose in the sky. Yet she had gotten used to it, able to drown it out for a while until she decided it was time to rise.
"It's time to get up" or until someone called her "it's almost ten and you're still in bed, Mistress" the shrill cheerful voice of Temari's comrade, Yome, did little to ease her out of bed, more like aid in the growing headache from her late night with a tequila bottle.
"You drank quite a bit last night" Sen grinned and handed a glass of water and two pills to her as she sat up with a wince.
"Report" Temari muttered out of habit, popping the pills and swinging back the glass as Sen sat cross legged on the edge of the bed, tablet in hand.
"Haku Fu landed from Iwa last night, took a detour to his girlfriend's house and we saw him leaving early this morning to the office" Sen confirmed.
"Didn't want to come home to the wife" Yome added with a smirk and laid back in the messy bed.
"Seems so" Sen chuckled and scrolled through her notes "he was on the news this morning, something about purchasing Shimaru Industries, and currently had meetings up until five" she scrolled again with a hum "and a dinner at seven thirty with Iwa diplomat, Kitsuchi"
"Iwa's second in command" Yome sat up, no longer amused. Silence met their morning report. Both women looked over at Temari, waiting for a remark or order, but she just stared.
"Mistress?" Temari continued her vacant stare out the window.
"Temari?" Sen tried.
"Is he still alive?" She asked suddenly, both women looking to each other questionably.
"Yeah" Sen slowly nodded and set her tablet down with a sigh "you missed Blondie coming to wake him up. She seemed pretty angry with him too"
"Total smack down" Yome laughed "you both look like you have hangovers, it's kinda funny"
"They left a few minutes ago" Sen finished as Temari nodded and looked back to Yome extending her hand, taking the cue Yome handed over the mug of coffee to her with a grin "what answer were you hoping for?" Sen asked cautiously, gauging Temari's reserved mood.
"It just means I have more work to do" Temari sighed and took a generous sip of the coffee, perfectly sweetened the way she liked it.
"Shouldn't be hard" Sen shrugged, but the side eye was telling Temari more "he seemed pretty reluctant to hurt you" she hinted.
"Strange, wonder why" Yome added with a shrug and hopped out the bed. Temari busied with another sip to help ignore them, the information that he knew who she was had only stayed between her and Sen "why did you poison him anyways? Should have just left him for dead, saved us a lot of grief"
"Had to stop him from following, we don't want him dead, yet" had she even been a second to late, had she hesitated, he would have found his way out. For now she was stuck on her limited timeframe. Hidan hinted he was a obsessive man, once he picked something up he never gave it up. She could almost admire such a stubborn man in this game of patience she had started "Where's Kankuro?" She steered the subject to get out of her own head.
"He was with Sasori last night, smoothing over the exchange" Sen blew out a breath "you were a little out of it when he called to check up on you a fourth time"
"I should probably call him back" Temari drank from her cup unconcernedly, clearly not going to make the effort anytime soon. Her brother knew she was in good hands, and also that she was still ignoring him from Saturday.
"Don't worry already have Shira on it" Yome added gleefully, always a happy addition.
"When we lived with Sasori, he and Kankuro were annoyingly inseparable. Deidara and I hated it for a while" Temari grinned slightly, just a faint tug at the end of her lips at the memory, both women had looked up and soaked in her words "but back then you could gain Kankuro's trust with sweets and a new toy" she took another sip of the coffee while Yome laughed.
"They have a" Sen glanced around the room, snapping her finger to find the right word "strange bond?" She gave Temari a shrug and suddenly grabbed the mug from Temari's hands, before she could protest she grew serious "the girls have already started work for the day and little Dagger will inform us when Fu is free"
"And Raven?" Temari asked back, glaring at her taken coffee mug.
"She's getting everything ready for tonight" Sen glanced at Yome, a slow widened of her friend's eyes as she looked anywhere but at her boss, unfortunately Temari had caught it quickly.
"Rain?" Yome looked back when Temari called her "any word from Wind? Or are you avoiding telling me on purpose?" Yome nodded slowly, regretting losing the coin flip on who would break the news.
"Well, about that" Yome forced a nervous chuckle and cleared her throat when Temari narrowed her eyes "general Baki won't be here until next week" she squealed quickly.
"Why not? He said he'd be here by Thursday" Temari demanded, voice raising with each word.
"It's a matter of internal affairs" Sen interjected, tightening her grip on the mug "Lord Gaara has pushed the official meeting with Hokage Naruto to next month, so Baki had to push his diplomatic meeting further back" at the new information Temari looked past both woman, the shock wearing off into a gaze that could burn a hole in the wall.
"What is Gaara thinking?" She hissed through her teeth.
"The strike was early, it's too dangerous for him to be here right now" Sen tried to take a step back nearly missing the pillow shot in her direction, gladly the mug in her hand had been spared from making a mess on the carpet.
"I already know that Sen!" Temari jumped out the bed, tossing the blanket back onto Yome, who squealed at the sudden attack of being buried under the sheets "that sly piece of trigger happy shit!" she growled as she shut the bathroom door harshly behind her, muffled curses practically echoing in the room. The women grimaced and slowly looked to each other.
"You don't think she's still mad that Itachi went rogue?" Yome muttered to Sen who gave her a pointed look.
"No, I think she's slamming doors for joy" Sen rolled her eyes sarcastically and sighed when the shower turned on in the bathroom "shooting Dai alerted the others, it was a save that Temari could make it seem like he had a stroke after his surgery" Yome nodded and began grabbing the sheets to make the bed.
"Yeah, shame we couldn't have just had all four of them in one building, then blow the whole place up. It would have made this so easy" Yome fixed one side of the bed, quiet for a moment as she focused on smoothing out the edges neatly "think it's a bad time to tell her your boyfriend called?"
"Kakuzu is not my boyfriend" Sen mumbled, fluffing the pillow in her hands a bit aggressively "he's my target, who just happens to be very nice, and secretly sweet, and takes me out sometimes and pretty damn good time in" she huffed when Yome giggled "Fuck you"
"You so love the guy" Yome teased.
"I do not" Sen tossed the pillow at her, a useless move as Yome caught it easily and set it down on the bed neatly "remember why we are here, Yome" Sen grew serious "not to live a life in this country, but to protect our own. Everything we do here is for a better future in Suna. One where our people won't starve in the streets, and mothers won't get shot down in front of their children. One where our loyal men don't get hung for supporting a man who wants change" Sen balled her fists at her side and took a deep breath "why can't they see that Lord Gaara is trying his best to change our nation for the better"
"Lord fourth didn't leave much for him to work with" Speaking somberly, Yome sat quietly on the edge of the bed, gazing out into the Konoha skyline. Sen came to sit beside her. The two had known each other for nearly ten years now, the right and left hand of the Mistress.
"Temari and Kankuro are living proof that Suna tried to change" Sen muttered.
"Yeah, but what will really happened if they show up alive fifteen years later?" Yome hummed quietly and just as Sen was about to speak the water turned off. Both women looked up as Temari left the bathroom, golden unruly hair now dripping wet and a towel wrapped tightly around her body "that was quick"
"No time" she marched past them and to the closet, tossing the towel on the bed as she did.
"Temari you can't kill Itachi" Sen called out flatly, finding interest in observing her manicured nails.
"I wasn't going to" Temari huffed pulling on a pair of jeans.
"Or the Uchiha boy" Yome added and glanced back.
"I wasn't going to do that either" stepping from the closet tossing a simple black shirt over her head and quickly pulled it over her body she halted and looked between them "why do you always assume I'm going out to kill someone?" they met her gaze with knowing looks and she rolled her eyes "you two are awfully chatty this morning" she put her hands on her hips "it's annoying, so stop it, that's an order" she barked out and reached back to grab a jacket.
"Then what's the rush?" Sen questioned again.
"If you're planning to interrogate me you're doing it wrong and I should know" she slipped the jacket on and pointed at both of them "I taught both of you airheads"
"Extra snappy this morning, hangovers are not good for you" Yome crossed her arms and received a flick of Temari's middle finger at her direction as she left the bedroom "hey, some cab driver did that to me the other day" Yome grinned and looked to Sen "still don't know what it means, but he got really mad when I did it back to him"
"You really are an airhead sometimes, Yome" Sen put a hand to her forehead with a sigh and stood following after Temari "Mistress, where are you going?"
"Tell Shira to take Kankuro to the base, you two continue with recon as usual, but don't go near the base under any circumstances" she busied herself with putting on her boots and patted her coat pockets quickly, pulling out a silver cased lighter and setting it back into her pocket with a nod "I'll see you both after mission tonight at nine" she opened the door and glanced back "any word from Wind is only for my ears, understood?"
"Yes, Mistress" they nodded to her as she left.
"Ten yen says she's going after Itachi" Yome lifted a crisp ten note from her pocket.
"Twenty says she's going after the brother" Sen challenged back with a smirk.
"You're on"