Three 6 Nine

My apologies for the long delay (although I can’t guarantee it won’t happen again). But alas, here it is ladies and gentlemen...the next installment. Now out of request from a review I’ll provide as much background information as possible

As I’ve noted earlier, this story was started long ago so it is completely not following the manga/anime...as Orochimaru is still alive here. However, I would like to reemphasize that it just started this way. If I can, I will try to make it eventually flow similarly to the frame of the manga. If not...oh well [=. As far as ages are concerned, the former Rookie 9 are all about 15-16 years old so I suppose you can approximate everyone else’s age from that. The battle royale of the prologue came about probably in my thoughts at the time of what was going to eventually happen in the manga/anime series where Konoha will eventually have to fight Akatsuki and Sound. Obviously it does not work out exactly as that, but all hope is not lost yet...the only thing you need to really know about that prologue’s battle is that it was one where Akatsuki finally tries to move in on obtaining Naruto in Konoha while Sound gets word and starts to ruthlessly attack them while fighting off attacking Konoha ninjas. Makes sense? I’ll try to explain better if you don’t get it. A good thing to note is that Gaara’s demon has already been removed at this time. So if you really want to place this in the manga/anime timeline, it would be after the rescue Gaara arc, but before Sasuke kills Orochimaru. Then the story goes to a different timeline from there. Kay? Good. Phew...let’s get on with it shall we?


Chapter One



Gone.

The number one surprising, loud, and usually very clueless ninja was...gone. One minute, he was standing there doing what he does best, which is being a show off...and the next...he’s gone.

That was it?

That was what that whole sha-bang with the becoming a human Rasengan and getting everyone’s attention and bringing about a mysterious ginormous shadow head...all that to only fucking disappear?!

At least he lived up to his title of the number one surprising ninja to the very end.

It figured that the Kyuubi vessel would pull something like this. It was so very Naruto-like to have a flashy entrance or exit for that matter. It would come as no surprise to anyone that if ever he would decide to leave everyone, that he would do so unforgettably...no one doubted that the blond would go out displaying the coolest moves of all time.

No...what everyone did not see coming was the fact that he actually left...willingly.

If his final words and actions were anything to go by, then one could not be deceived that Naruto willingly left the village.

...abandoned Konoha...abandoned his friends...

...which unmistakingly means that he willing became...a missing nin.

Of course, there is the slim-to-none chance that the whole thing is a scam. It could be that the fox nin had done this unwillingly through jutsus similar to the Yamanaka Clan’s...or that this is just one very large, far-fetched, and inappropriately timed prank of the kid. After all, this is the shinobi world...and it is Naruto we’re talking about here.

So why do these excuses feel like a crock of elephant shit?

Every single living being stood there for a good six minutes while their minds slowly and carefully (so as to not cause further damage) processed the images of the scene with Naruto. Because between having a three-sided war, knocking heads or knocking off heads, and the hazardous fumes emitted from the myriads of dead bodies... everyone’s brains had to drop off some IQ points to the nearest garbage disposal. While everyone’s eyes witnessed everything unfold, the connection between eyes and brain were on overload. You could practically see the infamous “loading...” sign typical of game consoles over everyone’s heads. Some people were still stuck on the talking head.

But of course, they had to snap out of it eventually...after all...there were “geniuses” on the premises...

It appeared as though Itachi was the first to move. He turned to look at Sasuke and glared at him as if he was the magician who made the Kyuubi disappear into thin air and by looking at him like that would make him bring the boy back. Yes, the look was bordering “childish” as if his younger brother stole his favorite toy. All he needed was a pout to complete the look...yeah right.

With one last angered look, Itachi too vanished. As if that was the cue, all other Akatsuki members disappeared as well. Sasuke was just glaring fire and brimstone on the spot where his elder brother stood.

Now that Akatsuki disappeared, everyone else seemed to come back online to the server of REALITY. Yet no one really knew how to react to the situation. Should they leave everything be or continue where they left off?

Well, on the Oto side of the river, their main beef seemed to be with Akatsuki. Konoha just had problems with everybody and their grandmother.

Without further ado, most of the Sound shinobi retreated without even a squeak let alone command from their leader. In fact, they only ones from Oto that remained were the Uchiha, Orochimaru, and his side-hip—*ahem* kick...side-kick. And it didn’t look like the snake nin was about to leave anytime soon. He was currently preoccupied in a stare-down with his former frog-loving teammate.

It has been too long since he was provided with the opportunity to show his superiority to him. The look on Jiraiya’s face when his feathers get ruffled, especially be him, never gets old. Though the snake Sannin would never admit it, there always existed some sort of inconspicuous, atom-sized...feeling every time he fought against his former teammates...as if reminiscent to something that existed too long ago to even be considered real.

Though he would never even realize, he relished in the sparse moments of the brazen show of rivalry with Jiraiya or Tsunade...reminding him of something...something he once knew...a notion...

...or was it emotion?

...and then it was gone.

Orochimaru turned to look at the surrounding area finally noticing that Sound’s forces dispersed. It wasn’t a question of loyalty...they’re all missing nins after all.

He briefly glanced to Kabuto, who was prepared to strike the instant the Hokage showed signs to attack. Then he turned his gaze to his soon-to-be vessel, who hadn’t stopped having a staring contest with the ground...he seemed to be winning he noted.

Then the snake Sannin returned his attention to his original opponent. “Well Jiraiya, it seem we once again have to postpone your date of death. Fear not though, we can easily arrange it for the near future.”

Jiraiya’s glare just increased ten-fold. “As if Orochimaru. This ends now.” He was now positioning himself to for the Rasengan.

As the ball of chakra was created, Orochimaru was looking intently at it while thinking back at the similar event with the Kyuubi kid earlier. Needless to say, the entire situation intrigued him.

“Shouldn’t you be more concerned about what has become of your student? After all, you seem to have this nasty habit of losing them.”

Apparently Rasengans can grow to the size of bowling balls.

That really shouldn’t be surprising since tonight they discovered that the attack can be bigger than an igloo...but Naruto was always special like that.

For some unexplainably illogical reason, the snake user could not tear his eyes away from the Rasengan...just like what happened when he was fascinated with the fox nin’s display of power. Except, as he was looking at the attack in the frog hermit’s hand, he wasn’t seeing it. He was remembering the conversation the blond was having with the mysterious figurehead.

“Aren’t you curious?” He looked up to Jiraiya’s eyes all of a sudden with almost a look of wonderment.

The look accompanied with the words made Jiraiya stop in his tracks.

It seemed that the slight tone of awe even cause Tsunade and Kabuto to turn from one another to curiously look at Orochimaru.

As that were the key to snap from his trance, Sasuke turned to observe his sensei. All of Konoha’s shinobi were, oddly enough, more focused on the Sannin rather than tending to their injuries.

The snake summoner simply spoke again almost as if to himself. “Aren’t you curious of the implications of that conversation? What...what the circumstances of that situation were?”

By now, the toad-Sannin relinquished his attack. “What’s it to you?”

Orochimaru looked at Jiraiya and then at everyone else who was looking at him with various expressions...his eyes clearer than before. “Isn’t the better question ‘what’s it to all of us?’”

~*~

He was tempted.

Oh was he tempted to just...make those...hand signs.

Those hand signs that would undoubtedly dispel this...this stupid illusion.

Screw the fact that his Sharingan didn’t indicate that this was one...as a shinobi you learn not to trust everything the world shows you...even if his Sharingan would normally take care of this.

Maybe it was malfunctioning?

It has been a while since he had a medical exam.

The summoned animals of the two Sannins disappeared as they landed to the ground. The Hokage followed by the snake Sannin’s right hand man walked toward the other two and stopped before them. In a blink of an eye, his former student stood by the four adults as well.

...

No blood.

No ripping out tongues or entrails.

No yelling even.

And yet his Sharingan was spinning furiously.

There they were, the five of them just standing there...but talking...quite calmly in fact.

Either this was one hell of an illusion or...

...or he needed a CAT scan...

After a couple of minutes, the three Oto nins briefly glanced at each other before looking back at the other two Sannins. Then they each did something that the Copy Cat Ninja thought—no, knew would put him into cardiac arrest.

The three Sound shinobi held out their hand to the two Sannins in...

...in a submissive manner.

...A CAT scan and a therapist...

Kakashi closed his eyes momentarily to press his fingers against them. Once he opened them again, Tsunade and Jiraiya were cuffing the three with chakra bonds. To actually see this scene before him (minus Sasuke), Kakashi would have given his Sharingan.

To see them give up willingly...

...his Icha Icha series would have joined in the sacrificial offering too...

...Okay maybe not, but something close to that anyway.

The five people began approaching the rest of Konoha’s ninjas as they turned their attention back to healing themselves and one another. Tsunade walking in front as Jiraiya took the rear with the restrained enemies sandwiched in between.

So...did this mean that they won...half the war at least?

Kakashi certainly hoped so. Kami only knows that he and the rest of Konoha have been fighting and dying for far too long without a moment’s reprieve. He could definitely go for one of those things...what were they called?

...Oh right...vacation.

The Jounin could barely recall a time when he wasn’t fighting or on some life-threatening mission. But of course he was well aware of the fact that this is what being a shinobi is all about: living on edge. If anyone knew what the phrase “live everyday like it was your last” truly meant, it was ninjas. Kakashi was no exception.

What the hell did everyone think he pocketed those books for?!

There was no denying the fact that the man was an ecchi as they get, but everything had its purpose. Reading them every chance he got served to bring him back to life each time he lost one...whether he watched or made it happen.

His books were more than just a form of entertainment. They exceeded being just a form of distraction from what he had to do on a daily basis. They went beyond being a simple obsession on his part. No...it was none of these. No one knew what the series really meant...how much he really needed it. They weren’t just some perverted books.

Icha Icha Paradise was his fucking religion damn it!

He worshipped the series in a way that would put any devout follower of anything to pure shame. No one understands that they kept him grounded. They maintained his sanity.


He knew he should have forced them on Sasuke sooner!

The former ANBU regarded his ex-student with his ever-stoic expression. Then he considered the Sannin that he chose to follow. Maybe...

...Maybe if Jiraiya had offered them to his teammate...


Kakashi took one look at the snake Sannin with his trademark “my smile alone can give you the willies” and knew for sure...

...The power of Icha Icha can only do so much...

The group of five had finally reached Kakashi and the rest of Konoha’s shinobi. Kakashi chose to rest his gaze upon the Uchiha who steadfastly ignored him. Tsunade took one good look at everyone before barking out orders.

“Shizune! Gather all medic nin teams and move all injured to the hospital to have them properly cared for.” She then turned to the ANBU. “Disperse throughout the village and its perimeter to eliminate any lingering enemies. Afterwards, gather all the dead and do a body count of our own and the others. Be sure to dispose of everything accordingly.” Looking to the now Rookie 7 and Team Gai, “You will also be helping with the dead bodies and helping the villagers establish order except for Sakura and Shikamaru. You two will be following me. Afterwards, meet us in the hospital meeting area.” She continued to give orders to other Chuunins and Jounins. She finally addressed Kakashi, Kurenai, and Gai. “You three will be coming with me. You too...Iruka.”

The Chuunin initially appeared to be lost in another world until the Hokage spoke to him. He looked up mildly startled at the fact that he was actually joining the Jounins to follow the Hokage.

Kakashi then knew that a recently blond renegade was to be discussed. He couldn’t help but sigh at the fact that it would be his luck that when he got his first Genin team...it would end up this way.

He then felt he was being watched and so moved his gaze towards that direction. Sasuke continued to stare at nothing ahead of him looking as though he hadn’t moved a millimeter.

Kakashi smiled a little underneath his mask. ‘Live everyday like it was your last.’

No...he would not have changed a thing.

~*~

Why did he do it?

Why? Why did he just throw everything away?

He knew. He knew exactly what that felt like and yet...yet he did the same thing.

Was it all just a lie?

She shut her eyes tightly while clenching her jaw and fist. ‘No! No, Naruto wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t do that to us...to me.’

But no one thought he would abandon the village either. Could anyone even be sure any longer as to what Naruto would or wouldn’t do? Did anyone even really know him?

The girl slowly opened her eyes gazing unseeingly at the ground she was kneeling upon. If one were to look very closely, one would see her nearly invisible shaking.

Without warning, a gentle hand was placed upon her shoulder. Another pair of eyes resembling her own looked back at her with worry and...understanding.

“Hinata...?”

She closed her eyes desperately willing the tears threatening to form to remain at bay because this was one of the last things she needed: her prideful elder cousin witnessing her, yet again, at her weakest...which never seemed that different from her at her strongest. It was times like these that made her question time and again how and why she became a shinobi. Then it was the icy image of her father that, rather comically, viciously tore and stomped those thoughts to smithereens.

But that still did not change the fact that her demeanor conflicted rather than complimented her line of work. There was never a doubt, even in her own mind, that she possessed exceptional skills and talent. If there were one thing that Hinata was incomparable in, it would be her ability to follow things through with absolute precision and accuracy. Whether it was particular ninjutsus or taijutsus she was currently practicing, or the various protocols shinobi continuously had to recite into their being, or even cleaning her already immaculate room, she was impeccable to a point.

It wasn’t even that she lacked the heart and will. When poked and prodded in the right places, Hinata’s vivacious spirit meanders its way out of her thick-coated shell to display a warrior with such fierceness unrivaled by any shinobi genius, elite clan or not. This, in combination with her natural skills, is a force that no one should even think of challenging.

Hyuuga Hinata was certainly not weak. At. All.

...

She just possesses a conscious that’s on a constant sugar high.

Considering whom her father is, it’s no wonder that she was overly conscious about everything. Hinata was constantly drilled into perfection for as long as she can remember that lead her to scrutinize everything in detail, which made her “find” more flaws about herself that she was sure were as glaringly obvious as a zit on an unblemished face.

That was unacceptable.

While over analyzing herself, she had another compartment of her conscious that always interpreted and examined others’ reactions to her. She figured that if she could identify this “acne problem”, everyone should be able to as well, something she learned rather well from her father. Judging from the continuous disapproving glares that she received at least three times a day, she figured everyone else would have eyes the same as his.

Hence blending with the walls. Why make yourself stand out more when your flaws do that nicely enough for you?

That was what made Uzumaki Naruto remarkable.

It wasn’t his flamboyantly rambunctious nature that made her admire him. It wasn’t his soaring self-confidence that he seemed to grab out of thin air at the times when it counted the most. It wasn’t even his perpetual need to prove himself in the eyes of others and his determination to be recognized.

She admired him because he was simple.

He didn’t take everything, tear it apart, and put it back together over and over again. He didn’t try to break down the meaning of every look and glare directed at him, and try to figure out what about him caused it. He didn’t hunt for more imperfections.

He had goals and he had focus. Whether consciously or not, he prioritized things in his life. He was going to protect his friends. He was going to bring Sasuke back. He was going to be Hokage.

It was a simple as that.

He did not think about how he was going to do these things because it did not really matter. He did not have to come up with brilliant strategies or display complicated battle moves. To him, it didn’t matter how he did it or how he looked when he did it.

All that mattered was that he did it and that was his ninja way that she admired so much.

That was when she realized that Naruto always had a reason to do the things. He protected his friends because that was all he had. He was going to bring Sasuke back because he was part of that first priority. And he was going to be Hokage not only to be recognized but also to definitely ensure his first priority remains true. He didn’t have to explain himself to anyone and his reasons never had to be complicated.

Hinata smiled slightly to herself. Then he had to have a reason for leaving too.

She took a couple of deep breaths and shut her eyes tightly for a couple of seconds. Then they shot open and held a shine partially from the attempted tears, but mostly from sheer determination.

No. No way. She was done crying. It was useless and it never got her anything other than a migraine.

It was in this moment that Hinata truly stood up on her own two feet. Her cousin watched her warily as if fearing that her sudden shift in attitude was signaling that she may have...well to put it simply...”snapped” thus orchestrating an “episode”...something that was not really needed at the moment.

“Hinata, are you al—“ Neji began, but was instantly halted at the look she gave him. It was a look that made him widen his own eyes. That one look said everything.

‘I’m not the strongest, but I have enough strength to keep moving.’

‘I’m afraid, but I’m going to face all my fears with everything I have.’

‘I feel alone, but I know that you’re here by my side...and that’s enough.’

Neji was literally dumbstruck for a couple of seconds before complete comprehension decided to make its entrance. He closed his eyes momentarily and tilted his head downward so his hair covered his face. After a few seconds his shoulders began to shake slightly.

At first, Hinata simply observed her cousin’s reaction. Her eyes then widened abruptly when she saw him shaking. She stood frozen on the spot briefly wondering the same thing he wondered about her minutes ago—perhaps there is something about belonging to powerful clans or bloodlines that causes the breaking of basic cerebral functions that is commonly referred to as “snapping”. This definition was brought to you by Shinobi Dictionary under Kekkei Genkai clans. Refer to Uchiha Clan for further elaboration.

Hinata mentally smacked herself. Perfect timing for her more cynical-than-thou alter ego to invade her thoughts. She really needed to stop listening to Hanabi.

She returned her attention to her cousin whose only change seemed to be that his shoulders were shaking even harder.

‘Is...is he...angry?’ Hinata wondered. Could this entire situation really have pushed him over the edge?

Hinata bit her lower lip with uncertainty. Hesitantly she called out, “Neji?”

The shaking did not stop and at first it seemed as though he had not heard her. However, he eventually started to lift his head.

In those nanoseconds, which felt more like gigaseconds, Hinata held her breath as she watched Neji move. Already multiple images of the emotions she would see displayed on his face were passing a mile a minute through her mind: from anger to rage to disgust to maniacal to...

...to...to...amused?

STOP. Think back a few images. Replay: anger, rage, disgust, maniacal... What and where the hell was the last image?

Then Hinata heard a noise. It sounded like...a choking horse...holy s—‘NO! Stop right there and just address the situation!’ Hinata berated herself.

Hinata closely examined her cousin and realized what and where the hell was that last image. Somewhere in the not-so-deep recesses of her mind, Hinata realized that she seriously should consider running for the hills at this point. Her neurocells were still disjointed at the moment and the scene in front of her seemed to only fuel the chaos within her mind.

Of course, that was only about 17% of her brain. The other, much larger portion was furiously snapping shots to be forever stored in the filing cabinets of her mind labeled “Things I Never Thought I’d Live to See.”

Here before her was the most proud, stoic, and ever arrogant Hyuuga who could defeat a statue in poise...giggling...

Hysterically.

It eventually became a full-blown laughing fit to the point where tears were streaming down his face.

Hinata thus had come up with three options: one, she continue to stare at him with a deer in the headlights look. Two, she smack him upside the head, which may lead to him brutally killing her or him laughing even harder. Neither sounded that appealing in her book. Three, she take him to Tsunade who’d probably order him to be locked up in the white-padded room for special cases like this.

...Mmm...right...which to choose?

Hinata continued to watch her cousin until he fully lifted his head up to look at her. What she saw beyond the insane amount of laughter made her eyes widen this time.

‘I was so worried before, but now I know everything will be fine.’

‘I’m glad we’ll stand by each other’s side through this.’

‘I’m finally relieved. You’ve truly become strong.’

Upon seeing this, Hinata let a small giggle loose, which then turned to slight laughter. They stopped for a brief moment to look at one another again silently communicating before bursting into hysterical laughter again.

No doubt about it. Kekkei genkai elite clans were insane. But at least they can be insane together, they thought as they walked off to follow the Hokage’s orders.

~*~

He could not believe this.

How exactly did he land in this position again?

Ah...that’s right...that damn troublesome blond.

His face could not look anymore bored than what it was now as he was walking beside Sakura. It was bad enough that barely an hour ago he was engaged in a battle that required more energy than he usually used in three months...and now he had to go and play detective.

Troublesome.

Shikamaru sighed heavily as he continued walking with his arms raised and fingers folded behind his head. To any passerby, the genius looked as though he were staring blankly into space and any minute was going to connect very painfully with something not-so-very soft either. However, walking without collision while looking like an airhead were just a few of the oh-so talented skills the shadow user was damn proud to proclaim.

The other was looking useless enough to avoid “unnecessary energy-spending” missions. It helped to have a face that always looked asleep even when wide-awake.

But apparently it did him no good this time around as he dragged his feet alongside the pink-haired medic nin, who was as silent as the grave with a face to match it with, to a particular destination that he really had very little inclination to head towards. As skilled as he was with imitating a dead-beat bum, the inner workings of his infamous mind was busier than a beehive. With three million and a half thoughts ricocheting throughout his skull, it was a surprise he was not suffering from an aneurism yet. For all the genius that he had, he could not, for the life of him...find the damn off button for this.

Much like Ino’s mouth. It was no wonder he was always tired.

But nonetheless, Shikamaru “learned” to live with it (though he’s still trying to solve the mysterious Yamanaka syndrome of non-stop verbal diarrhea), which is probably why he was currently convincing himself that karma must love to prank his ass for his laziness. Really, how anticlimactic is it to say a shinobi died from thinking too much?

Or because he befriended a blond blue-eyed dead-last?

Shikamaru was never one to have secret handshakes while shouting “BFF 4 Life!” with Naruto, or anyone for that matter, but he did fall under the category of “People He Must Unavoidably Give A Damn About” a.k.a “Friends”. Which is precisely why among the throngs of ping pong thoughts in his head, there was an image of a mini Shika throttling a mini Naruto to the next life.

Naruto was always supposed to be relatively simple. He was predictable to a fault in the shadow nin’s eyes despite his notorious reputation of being Konoha’s number one surprising ninja. He was headstrong, impulsive, not exceptionally bright, who whipped out a few good comebacks for the enemies while miraculously moving them with ridiculously simple words that one can find in a self-help book. And that’s how he always wins. Always moved by the waves his comrades made, whether they were in trouble or they created it.

So why the hell did the blasted moron change the routine all of a sudden?!

It is bad enough that Konoha has to lick their heavy wounds, but the spontaneous departure of the blond was adding salt to it. Shikamaru already was tired and had a freaking migraine already...he could not waste more trying to figure out someone who was supposed to be the only uncomplicated thing in existence.

There was only one word for this: Troublesome.

But here he was walking down the street with a relatively quiet Sakura to the place where he knew would put his brain into overdrive and combust on site: Naruto’s apartment. Shikamaru had to keep from rolling his eyes at the memory from moments ago with the quite seriously agitated Hokage:

Flashback


“You two,” Tsunade barked rather softly so as no one other than Sakura and Shikamaru could hear, but at the same time feel the seriousness of it, “I want you to investigate the gak—ah that is Uzumaki Naruto’s living quarters. You are to find and report in two hours anything you deem would explain what the hell just happened earlier. Do not, and I mean, DO NOT leave anything unchecked under no circumstances. I don’t care if you have to turn the damn place upside and check it thirty-seven times. Am I understood?” Tsunade looked as sternly as possible towards the two Chuunins considering the topic on hand.

“Hai Hokage-sama,” replied the two and vanished on sight.


End Flashback

Needless to say, Shikamaru was, as they say, rolling in a boat-load of troublesome.

It really was a wonder how the dead-last who was below the simple meter could be so irritatingly difficult to unwind even for a genius like himself. Most of him (meaning like ninety-nine point four percent) was thoroughly peeved at the whole thing.

But there was no denying the thrill that tugged at his almost nonexistent curiosity at solving the mystery that is Uzumaki Naruto. The boy who housed one of the most terrifying creatures known to the world, and still lives to tell about. The boy who beat the odds by becoming a full-fledged shinobi, and a respectable one at that. The boy who never backed down against the tirade of assaults that serve to bring him down.

The boy who fooled the genius by turning his back on what he lived for.

Double trouble. And then some.

Shikamaru sighed once again. ’That guy is going to be the death of me.’

The two ninjas were closing in on Naruto’s apartment, which looked similar to the battleground they had just fought on. Quickly glancing at one another, the two moved forward and climbed the dilapidated staircases to the top floor. Reaching the apartment number three, the ninjas swiftly yet quietly broke the lock and opened the door slowly while taking the necessary stances to prepare for any unwelcome surprises.

The apartment was pitch black. Two pairs of eyes quickly scanned the room for any immediate and/or hidden danger on the premises. When all checked out, the two shinobi made their way slowly but carefully inside the room so as to not cause any disturbance to any “evidence”. Everything was dead silent except for the creaking floorboard as Sakura moved forward first, and their breaths that seemed to reverberate off the walls. They continued to proceed forward without seeing anything out of the ordinary. The shadow of Naruto’s bed and nightstand with the lamp appeared to be in order as well as his little table for dining. Everything looked to be in place for in this studio.

“I’m going to turn on the light,” Sakura abruptly said something for the first time. Nearly gave Shikamaru a heart attack, but he was not about to say anything to kill the mood.

Sakura slowly made her way to the lamp on the nightstand. Shikamaru observed her light footsteps across the creaking floorboard as she approached it and saw as she reached out her hand to turn it on. With a bit of searching, her fingers were finally able to locate the switch and then, without much warning a click was heard and the bulb showed sign of life.

At first, it was one flicker, which then became a few more much brighter than the last one. Then when it finally stabilized, the room was lit in a soft yellow glow and Shikamaru could see the finer details of the room they were processing.

At the moment he was facing Sakura who was just turning back from lighting the lamp. When she faced his direction, he noted how she instantly widened her eyes as she stared behind him.

Fearing, or should it be said, calculating the worst, Shikamaru asked, “What is it?” while still staying rooted to the spot.

For a while Sakura remained as she was. Then tired of waiting and of the stupid suspense, Shikamaru slowly turned around to see what was there. As he turn around, he locked his eyes on what Sakura was staring.

There it was. Shikamaru widen his own eyes at the sight before him.

There was...

...absolutely nothing.

All there was, was Naruto’s kitchen and wall that separated the apartments. All were clean and bare.

That was the problem.

In that instant the two ninja’s realized they had nothing to find. Sakura went to check the bathroom by the off chance there may be something there while Shikamaru scoured the kitchen for some luck. After ten minutes, the two came back empty handed.

This was bad. The Hokage was going to go ballistic on them.

After about an hour of fruitless searching, they realized they were at the end of their rope. There was absolutely nothing of significance left behind, not even Team 7’s photograph. All that managed to prove was Naruto’s leave was premeditated.

The Hokage was going to rampage...and they would be the first sacrifice.

Finally with a loud sigh Sakura said, “Let’s try going around the perimeter to see if there’s anything.” Without any ideas, Shikamaru got up and followed the girl outside walking across the creaking floorboard.

Shikamaru stopped.

Sakura, after realizing she wasn’t being followed, turned her head around to see what happened and noticed Shikamaru’s face.

Now it was her turn to fear the worst. She did not even form the question on her lips before he stepped again. CREAK. And again. CREAK.


The two eyed each other carefully as if to gage each other’s thoughts. Sakura then turned back around and walked towards Shikamaru and knelt by his foot that was on top of the creaking floorboard. Taking out a kunai, she dug the sharp end under the board and, after a much wiggling, lifted it up and slid it out of it’s place. She handed it to Shikamaru, who took it without much thought while she tried to peer down the dark hole in the now open floor.

“Ch. I can’t see anything. Hold on lemme get a flash—“ Sakura stopped in her tracks as she turned around with dinner plate eyes and saw what Shikamaru was morbidly staring at.

His hands were...sticky...and covered...

...with red...

‘Ch. He’s going to be the death of us all.’




Mah...it’s late. I can’t think anymore lol. Sounds like it’s finally getting interesting though! Please R&R!