Disclaimer: Yeah, still disclaiming stuff.

A/N: I actually don't really intend to focus on this story. But I can't figure out how to do Tsunade's Heir. I thought maybe I needed to get back into the third person perspective thing. (And the writing Naruto thing)

Chapter 3 - Interrupt Shikamaru Day

They were running through the trees, because Shikamaru just couldn't stand for Naruto's order to 'stay put'.

Because it had all gone to hell.

All of it.

He could feel it.

And Ino could feel that he felt it. They spent so long together in a team. Had been through so much.

Chouji kept them on the straight and wholesome. His big heart made sure they could live with looking themselves in the mirror.

Ino kept them on schedule. Kept them moving.

Shikamaru kept them alive.

"Shikamaru?" the blonde asked. "Shika? What's – What's going on?"

"I don't know." Shikamaru replied. Usually it was fairly clear to him what was going on. Intellectually, at least. If the details were not clear, then a rough picture at least…

But there was a kind of darkness on the strategic stage. Naruto seemed too unpredictable, and yet seemed to be quite focused at the same time.

Shikamaru couldn't fathom the blonde's objectives. To begin with, was the blonde smart or stupid? Impulsive or forth thinking?

He couldn't help but think that whatever the blond intended, it was something fundamentally strange.

It was then they ran into Kiba. "Yo!" He gasped in awe. "That guy just bumped into me and told me to head back." He gave a befuddled look. "And I was like, 'what the hell? What happened to backing you up?'"

Shikamaru didn't have to think too hard on that. I happened. I asked too many questions. I seemed like too much trouble. "Naruto's broken the rules and we need to catch up with him." Shikamaru explained. "I've officially stepped in as the second-in-command, citing questionable motives."

"You serious?" Kiba asked.

Shikamaru nodded. "We'll try to keep it between just us if we can." He assured. "But by now he's probably moved somewhere with the spy. Can you track him?"

"Hell no! That's the thing!" Kiba exclaimed. "Like I said he bumped into me, and the next thing I knew my communicator was gone and I couldn't smell a thing! I could go by tracks but at this time of night it would be slow as f*ck!"

Shikamaru pinched the bridge of his nose. Only Naruto. Pepper powder, probably. He reasoned. A prankster's weapon. That leaves Hinata for tracking, but she was the one against leaving our post…

"We should go back. It's orders." A whisper came from behind. It was quiet.

Perhaps it was used to being ignored.

But Kiba, who was facing that direction, immediately put up his hands. "Woah. Hinata? Hinata, look, don't…" The next words he intended, if any, died in his throat.

Shikamaru turned, to see the Hyuuga quietly staring at him. Her empty pure white irises saw nothing and everything, as it was the nature of the Byakugan that the eye's line of sight generally didn't matter.

But she was staring him down all the same.

Probably, she was staring them all down.

Hinata. She does tend to run the straight and narrow and it's obvious that she's crushing on Naruto. But I should be able to appeal to her emotionally.

No… that's tricky. Since she doesn't do well with authority, I'd better pull rank.

Shikamaru straightened up. "Hinata, Naruto's actions are in direct violation of protocol." He did his best to sound forceful. It wasn't in his nature, but he was a little used to it now. "As the second-in-command I've got rank until he can prove his reasoning before a court of inquisition. And –"

"Naruto-kun…" Her voice took on a different quality. It was a little breathy and with more steel than he'd ever thought possible from her. Possibly… it was a tone reserved only for him. "He told us to stay." She finished. "We should stay."

Kiba "Hinata? Hinata, don't. I mean, l-let's stay calm about this. Hinata?" He asked wearily even as he edged uneasily backwards.

I was too optimistic. Shikamaru cursed to himself. I was just thinking she wouldn't actively help us find him. She didn't tag along. She came for this. "Hinata, this is pointless. We have numbers and breadth of skills and strategic –"

A rough hand on his arm stopped him. He was getting stopped a lot today. "We can't fight her." Kiba warned.

"Kiba. Spies are serious business. With war on the horizon –"

"No, I mean we can't fight her. It's too close… It's been too long." The inizuka clarified. And what he said next put his nervousness within a whole different context. "We're within the range of her divination."

…Shit.

The Hyuuga concept of 'divination range' was a prerequisite for the two palms sixty-four strikes, but the concept itself was extremely broad and adaptable. In essence it was similar to Shikamaru's own 'checkmate' gambit, but built around superior information gathering, speed, and conflict control.

They stood there, each thinking what they could do to end this odd infighting. The silence stretched out due to both confusion and reluctance.

They didn't want to fight one of their own. Not one of the twelve. They shouldn't have to.

"I can't stand this." A bitter and dark voice was brandished against that uneasy silence in this bitter, dark night. "I'm sick of being left behind." It muttered.

All eyes turned to Sakura. It was then that things began to come together for Shikamaru.

She was not angry, exactly. Not the way she generally was when she played straight-man to some form of idiocy. She was… surly. Pouting in fact. Enormously displeased, and not very offended. There were tears in her eyes.

She figured out what he's doing. Shikamaru suddenly thought, in awe. She knows what's going on.

"Naruto, that idiot. He said he understood." She had a distinct frown on her face. "That idiot."

"What's going on?" Ino asked. "What's the idiot doing?"

Sakura shut her eyes and shook, once. The words, it seemed, had to be forced almost bodily from her. "He's protecting me." The pinkette let out a frustrated sigh. "Again."

Shikamaru had to double-take at that. Naruto had been right in assessing that their team had been overpowered. Not just any kind of spy could really give them a run for their money. But if Sakura said so, then Shikamaru believed her.

"He's out there alone Hinata." Sakura stressed. "Again. Alone. Tell me where he is!" She demanded. "I'm his teammate and I'm going to go back him up if he likes it or not!"

After a second of consideration, Shikamaru was glad that Hinata stood down. The Byakugan deactivated and she closed her eyes. "It would probably be faster to look yourself." She explained. "Pretty soon."

Just then, a gust of wind rushed through the treeline at a speed that threatened to bowl them all over.

No. Shikamaru thought. Don't tell me…

"BEEN A WHILE, BRAT! THIS BETTER BE GOOD!"

Gamabunta.

Well that sealed it. One way or another, some kind of serious shit was going down.

A/N: Review. Blah blah.

My BETA says I shouldn't write too much of this because he likes the ideas too much, and thinks I should keep them for myself (cuz' I'm so greedy, right) in case I want them for writing a professional novel one day.

Lately though, I've been feeling that I really have a long way to go. Right now I'm trying to work on my dramaticism. I don't know if you could tell from the chapter. Hey, if anyone's got some tips forward them up please?

Lately, I've also been listening to Hatsune Miku. I have to say I'm converted completely. I'll admit that I'm totally her fanboy. I've been moe-ified by her ger great moeness. She has a Tsundere song that just kills me. And she has a 'Take it easy' song that is like, pure spirit of rock and roll.

Still, no one's reviewed my BETA's songs. Shame on you all. If one person does you can have another Shippuden Complaint chapter within a week.