At the workers camp, the Cloud ninja paced restlessly. “Damn damn DAMN! This is pointless! Why are we just sitting around like this? We should be chasing after this guy!” He threw another kunai into the tree, just above Shikamaru’s head. “Right now, he’s probably sitting around stuffing his face. If we go out looking for him, he’s not going to come and whack the old man while we’re gone!” He stared at Shikamaru, as if expecting a response.

Shikamaru waited ten seconds before replying. “You speak as if we are hunting a mindless animal. Even if we are, he’s still unpredictable. Besides, if he’s stuffing his face, like you said, then he’s not going to move further away. This is a case where I can take my time, which is just how I like it.” He pulled out a cigarette and tried to light it, but the wind suddenly picked up, and then died down, extinguishing the flame of his lighter. He tried again, but the wind kept blowing too strong. “Temari!”

Kiba suddenly stopped running and started sniffing the air. The wind had shifted, and had brought with it the scent of his quarry. He was close, yes, very close. Too close, in fact. He was already within 10 meters of his team mates! “Akamaru! We’ve got to turn back, NOW!”

“Wait…if you’re over there….and the wind’s coming from over there.......... then who’s making the wind-” Shikamaru was interrupted by a large ‘No Smoking’ sign hitting him over the head.

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“Shikamaru?” The tenacious blond, who had been very angry at him a moment before, had a surprisingly tender and concerned tone in her voice. She gently helped him stand up, lending him her folded fan to lean on.

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