Summary: Shikamaru is appointed to be the leader of a mission along with Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji. While on this mission, they encounter the most difficult battle of all: them against Ino, Sakura, Tenten, and Hinata! What happened to them? ShikaIno, SasuSaku, NaruHina, NejiTen
Here's the first chappy to my fic!
Disclaimer: Nope…I don't own Naruto
Shikamaru waited in front of the door to Tsunade's office. He was worried and felt uneasy. He took a deep breath. He knew this meeting had to do with the disappearance of Ino, Hinata, Sakura, and Tenten.
It was a sudden. Sakura had disappeared first. Ino, Hinata, and Tenten were sent out to do search for her. They never came back. It had been three days since then.
Shikamaru heard a noise behind him and saw the doors opening as he entered, and found Tsunade. She was standing by the window looking outside. He watched as she turned around to face him, and saw that she had a very worried expression on her face. Shikamaru gulped, put his hands in his pockets, and approached the desk. As he walked further into the room, he looked to his side, where Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji were.
Naruto leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, and Sasuke and Neji sat in chairs. All of them had their eyes closed. They seemed to be thinking.
Shikamaru turned his attention to Tsunade who now sat at her desk. She looked at him with a stern look, and motioned him to move closer. Shikamaru approached, as the doors closed behind him.
"I think you know why you're here," Tsunade told him.
Shikamaru nodded.
"Maybe I'm overreacting," Tsunade continued, "but those girls have been gone a long time. I've decided to take this more seriously. I don't know if it has to do with Orochimaru, but they could be in trouble. What I'm trying to say is.."
"You want us to do investigate this," Shikamaru finished for her.
"Right," Tsunade began. "You, along with Neji, Naruto, and Sasuke. I'm worried and I think it's best to check it out."
Tsunade tried to appear at ease as she smiled half-heartedly at him. After all, they might have just gotten lost. Shikamaru could tell she was worried though. He had a bad feeling about it. He knew they all did.
"I ask that you'd lead the team, Shikamaru," Tsunade said as the meeting came to an end. "I'm trusting you'll do a good job. Go prepare, but hurry, you need to leave as soon as possible."
Tsunade didn't let it go on any longer. She motioned for them to leave, and they were escorted out immediately.
The four boys walked through the building, and stopped when they got outside.
They stood in silence, and Shikamaru suspected that they were worried. He thought the mission would be troublesome, but he was pretty worried himself. He was worried about Ino. They were teammates, after all. They were friends. He pushed away the thoughts of her being hurt, or worse.
"I'm ready to go," Sasuke said, breaking the silence. "I'll wait by the front gate." They watched as he left. Neji motioned to Shikamaru and Naruto, as he also began walking away.
"Me too," he told them. They left, leaving Shikamaru and Naruto.
Naruto clenched his fist. "I'll kill him! I'll kill Orochimaru if he's done anything to them!" Naruto gritted his teeth together, while he clenched the other fist.
Shikamaru place his hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Calm down, Naruto," he began. "It's probably not as bad as you think."
Naruto closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I'll meet you at the front gate" He said quietly. He then dashed off.
Shikamaru gazed up at the sky. The sun was setting and it was getting chilly. He looked back to the ground, as he felt a shiver come upon him. Clouds were building up. Rain looked like it was coming.
"Great," he mumbled as he headed towards the gate.
-
Sasuke walked slowly to the front gate with his hands in his pockets. He was a little angry with himself. He should've done something that night; the night that Sakura disappeared.
Flashback:
Sakura walked down the dark streets of Konoha alone. She was gazing up at the stars. She kept a steady pace, while she put her hands behind her back. She stopped when she saw Sasuke. He was lying back with his hands behind his head. He lied in the branches of a tree. He was resting.
Sasuke opened an eye, as he caught a glimpse of Sakura. He sat up slowly, and jumped down from the tree.
"What are doing out here so late Sakura?" He asked. Of course, she could ask him the same question, but it wasn't unusual for him to be out at the time.
Sasuke heard no reply from her. He raised an eyebrow, as he looked closer at her. She had an emotionless look on her face and a colorless look in her eye.
"I'm just taking a walk." She finally answered. She flashed a smile at him, and continued her walk. He watched her as she disappeared from his view. She was acting strange he thought to himself, but he decided to forget about it and pushed it from his mind. He turned towards home.
End Flashback
Sasuke was taken from his thoughts, when he felt a slight drizzle against his skin. He turned his head back to see Neji following slowly behind him, and noticed Naruto a little ways behind Neji. He turned his head from them to the sky. It was cloudy and dark. He could see little flashes of lighting.
They finally reached the gate, and came to a stop.
"We'll wait for Shikamaru." Neji said.
The other two got sat down and got comfortable, as they waited for their leader.
-
Shikamaru walked slowly, still dwelling on the thoughts of the mission. Why was he so worried? He suddenly pictured Ino's smiling face. He stopped and put his hand to his eyes. Calm down. He kept telling himself that. Suddenly, the drizzling rain came down harder. Shikamaru held out his hand to catch the falling droplets. The rain grew even harder. He quickly ran to the front gate.
"Shikamaru!" Naruto yelled to him, as he came.
Neji, Sasuke and Naruto were standing in the pouring rain, unsure of what to do. They were drenched.
"Change of plans," Shikamaru told them. "We can't leave in weather like this."
"Shikamaru…what about.." Neji began. He then stopped.
"I know, I know," Shikamaru began. "but this rain would hinder us. It would be best if we left early tomorrow."
"What if the rain hasn't stopped by then?" Sasuke asked.
Shikamaru stopped to think.
"We need to leave soon, Shikamaru. What about Sakura…and Hinata..Tenten..and…Ino?" Naruto began.
"If the rain hasn't stopped by tomorrow…we'll have to come up with a plan." Shikamaru began. "We'll go rest for now."
Sasuke and Neji sighed and stood still for awhile, but then stepped forward and began to walk home.
"But hey!" Naruto began. "That could be another night of them being held captive somewhere…or being beaten…or worse!" Naruto muttered the words out as he began to hold his body. He was cold. His breath appeared as he spoke. He shivered as he became short of breath.
"Naruto," Sasuke answered. "You know we'd be in bad shape if we found ourselves in battle."
"Fine." Naruto muttered. He turned away, as they all departed for home.
-
Neji sat on his bed as he gazed out the window at the very dark and thundering sky. The rain was pouring down increasingly harder. He sighed. He couldn't sleep. His thoughts dwindled on the mission.Why am I so worried? He asked himself. She's fine. What would Orochimaru want with her anyway? I'm sure she's fine.
Neji couldn't calm himself. He couldn't concentrate on anything but the mission.
Just then, he heard a knock on his window.
He opened it to find a very soaked Shikamaru, with patches of mud splattered throughout his cothing. He had a very stern look on his face, and seemed a little angry. He was panting for breath. Neji looked closer and saw a few cuts on his arms and face. Blood dripped down from the wounds.
"We have to leave," he said. "Now."
"Shikamaru…" Neji began. "What happened?"
So, what do you guys think? I promise things will get better. Also, of course, more coupling will come later. Um...well, I'm also thinking of making Shika the main person.
Well, you're reviews are welcome!
Another chapter will come soon.