021 -- [Action]

[endgames]

[Today when Shikamaru woke up to his morning routine of journal stalking, there was a mission notice waiting for him. Fantastic. But you reap what you sow with these things...

Shikamaru spends the next few hours going over everything he thinks he'll need for this mission before heading out of his apartment. Most of his plans for the week are on hold (again) but there's still a few things he wanted to take care of; people to see.

In particular, he'll seek out Ino and Naruto, stopping to talk to most of his friends from home too, if he sees them. Give them a heads up on where he's at for the next week or so. After that he'll head into the square in the mid-afternoon in search of one Albert Silverberg. Masaomi is next, though Shikamaru will actually bother hailing him over the journals if he doesn't see him. Same for Sokka, if he can't find him at the smithy or the Avatar House.

Even if he isn't seeking anyone else out, he'll still stop to speak to people he knows if he runs into them today. Especially if they came along into the tunnels during that last experiment. Curiosity, mainly - he wants to know if anyone's doing better now.

Feel free to catch him anywhere in town this afternoon. Until he finds Albert, he'll be the guy carting around a shogi board under one arm.]

Comments

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[Oh. This was totally a part of Naruto's plan, too! It just took him a moment to decide when the best time to ambush Tora was! Yeah!

... Ahem.] Haha, nice catch, Shikamaru! That's gonna save me so much time today! [Time to wander over and pick her up.]

[endgames]

[YEAH TEAMWORK. YEAH.]

Sure. Just make sure you get a good grip on her. [The Kage Mane won't have a hold on her after that.] I don't have the time to help you grab her again if she gets away from you.

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

Yeah? Got some important business to take of? [Notice how when he asked that, his voice insinuated something naughty. Somehow.

Anyway. He's got a good grip on the cat, and he picks her up.]

[endgames]

[...ignoring your insinuations. 8|

And getting right to the point.]

The Malnosso want me to go on a mission for them.

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[--Okay, this is not what Naruto expected to hear.] Wait, seriously? You're gonna go just like that?

[Yes. He nearly dropped Tora.]

[endgames]

[He was kind of afraid of that. The insinuation. And much as he expected it, it still stings.

He knows what he's doing, Naruto.]

Oi, throw her inside before you lose her again, will you? We can talk after that.

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[He seems hesitant to just put the conversation on pause -- even if it's for a couple of minutes while he tosses Tora back into his apartment -- but he eventually nods, sighs, and gets on his way back into his building.

A couple of minutes later, Naruto returns cat-less.] Alright, we gonna talk now?

[endgames]

[Shikamaru had followed him back some of the way, leaning up against the side of the building until Naruto came back out. He nods in answer, hands in his pockets.]

I have a lot of different reasons for going, you know. It's not just because they asked nicely.

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

I'm all ears. [As in, tell him those reasons. He wants to hear at least one. Because Naruto is pretty sure he wouldn't go and do the Malnosso's dirty work, and hearing Shikamaru going to do it is kinda weird.

Maybe that it feels wrong is a better way of putting it.]

[endgames]

For starters, it's a good chance to get more information about what's going on. If the Malnosso are really being as cooperative as they say they will, there's a lot I can find out by going. Locations, what else they're up to - things that might help us find a way out of here.

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[Yeah, that makes sense. As expected of Shikamaru. Of course he wouldn't go if it wouldn't further the plot to get the hell out of Luceti.] ... Ah, yeah. That sounds like a pretty good idea now that you mention it.

[...] But what kinda mission are you even goin' on? Those battles we took part of were bad enough, what if the mission ends up worse?

[endgames]

We're not gonna get out of here without taking risks. You know that.

[And after a moment's consideration, he decides to add on:] Like it or not, you can't be the only one to take them either.

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[Naruto falls silent for just a moment. Then a small smile manages to crack.] I guess it's a little selfish to try and handle everything myself, huh?

Besides, you'd probably figure things out way faster than I could. Guess it's for the best.

[endgames]

[...that was easier than he thought it'd be. He grins.]

I'll tell you everything I learn.

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[It's a testament to how much Naruto's grown to trust Shikamaru's actions and reasoning.]

You'd better! I'm lookin' forward to figuring out a way to bust outta this place!

[endgames]

You'll get your chance soon enough, if I have anything to say about it.

[That's what he's here to make sure of, after all.]

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me! I'm pretty sure you'll kick all the ass you've gotta, yourself!

[Naruto's seen it happen before.]

[endgames]

If I have to.

[And he probably will again.]

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[Yup. That's about all Naruto's got to say on the matter. Shikamaru's made him into a believer!!!!!]

... Hey, you need any help getting ready? Or are you set?