In a cold, early morning, just when the first ray of sunshine cut through the grey, gloomy sky, a certain blond looper hit his head on top of a modified computer and fell asleep. His face was filled with tiredness, dark rings covering the downside of his eyes, almost making him look like a certain red-haired jinchuuriki. Drool slowly slid down the corner of his lips, down his chin, and hit a key on the keyboard. On the monitor was an over 30 pages document filled with heavy chunks of texts.

Naruto continued to sleep. And as the sun rose, sky brightened, shops opened, the other looper began to stir awake. Sasuke slammed a hand against his eyes, grimacing at the brightness. It took a while for him to get used to the light, and he opened his eyes. His gaze immediately set upon the source of the brightness.

"NARU-" Halfway through his yell, Sasuke stopped himself when he took in the blond's peaceful sleepy face. He shook his head and decided to let it go for once. After a few quick taps of keys, Sasuke saved the document and shut down the computer, all the while grumbling about "wasting electricity and money".

When Sasuke had done his morning routine, he still had time to spare before Kakashi would show up at the assigned meeting spot for Team 7's first mission, so he jogged out and bought back a copy of today's newspaper.

The front page headline made him curl his lips into a wide grin.

HIGA SEITO HAS GONE INSANE!?

Written by Rita Sukita

Yesterday evening, Konoha Publisher's Head Editor Higa Seito had made a decision that shocked the entire company. This was what he had said, "anyone who can find me the hidden messages in Nakamura Tenzoi's poems will receive one million ryou!" Yes, what you have just read is not a joke. Higa Seito is willing to spend one million ryou to know some hidden messages. Why would he do that? As a fellow reporter of Konoha Publisher, I haven't been able to find any reason for Higa Seito's outrageous move. I had questioned a few reporters, but the answers I received were the same.

"In all my years of working here, Seito-san had always appeared to be a level-headed person. This is my first time seeing him lose his cool," said reporter Kiki Tanaka.

"I have no ****ing idea why Seito would waste ONE MILLION RYOU on some stupid messages! What's so great about this Nakamura guy anyway!?" Said reporter Yuma Haso.

Although Nakamura Tenzoi, the newbie poet who wrote 'Daughter of Evil' and 'Servant of Evil', had utterly defeated the professional writer Sakamoto-sensei by breaking his record on multiple accounts, what does his hiding messages in his poems have to do with Higa Seito? What's the significance of these hidden messages? How does Higa Seito know about their existence anyway? Are they worth spending one million ryou on? Or has Higa Seito gone insane?

Follow up for more info to come.

"Good move, Seito-san." Setting down the newspaper, Sasuke entered the kitchen and began preparing breakfast for both him and Naruto. Knowing their first mission was going to be a huge pain in the ass, Sasuke made twice the usual amount of food he'd eat in the morning. After finishing his breakfast, he moved to wake Naruto up. Nudging the sleeping blond's shoulder, Sasuke said, "Hey, wake up, dobe."

Receiving no response, Sasuke nudged Naruto again. Still, no response. Sighing, Sasuke glanced at Naruto's weary expression, and took off his hand that's resting on the blond's shoulder.

I'll give him a free day, seeing how he's been working hard last night. With that thought in mind, Sasuke made a shadow clone and transformed it into a clone of Naruto, clothes and all (1).

Because of the article by Rita Sukita, the name 'Nakamura Tenzoi' reached the eyes and ears of people all across Konoha.

Who doesn't want money? Who doesn't want a simple way to gain money?

More than half the citizens of Konoha immediately chased after the messages like bees after honey. It wasn't a bad idea actually. The more people working to find the messages, the sooner and more likely they would be found.

And thus, when Nakamura Tenzoi's third poem was published, the newspaper's sales had reached a new level.

Shikamaru sighed for the fifth time this morning as he glared down at the newspaper with gloomy eyes. Sakura's voice was still ringing in his ears.

"Help me find the hidden messages, and I'll convince Ino to stop bossing you around. Plus, when you find it, you can tell the Publisher and gain one million ryou. I know you probably don't care about money, but it's still a win-win, yeah?"

"Troublesome," Shikamaru groaned and picked up the newspaper reluctantly. Beside it lay yesterday's, and the day before's newspaper. All flipped to the Literature page. "'Regret Message'. I suppose it's the continuation of Servant of Evil." He had already read the first two poems and hasn't found anything, which means this hidden message possibly has bits and bits of it hidden in all the poems. Therefore forcing Shikamaru to read all of Nakamura Tenzoi's poems in order to find the messages.

"Troublesome," he groaned again before he began reading.

("Is this really worth your time? This can't possibly make your wish come true.")

("Would Milady like to try this too?")

("It's a game of the peasants; I don't need to try it. Besides... Len would grant me all my wishes, don't you?")

"So the servant's name is Len," Shikamaru muttered. "It doesn't sound like Japanese."

In a town by a port looking out onto the sea

Alone on the sand stands a girl crying

And a custom persists

Today it still exists

Traditions from long long ago

"Write down a wish on a piece of parchment, ("What are you wishing for everyday?")

Then place it in a bottle ("For Rin-sama's breasts to become bigger.")

"Cough!" Shikamaru choked, face reddening. It's alright for a servant to say that to the Queen?

If you let it flow, then someday it will grow ("Just kidding.)

And your heart's desire will be real" ("I wish Milady would be forever happy.")

("If that's what you want, then always stay with me...because I'm the happiest when I'm with Len.")

("I'm glad that's how you feel...")

"They must be very close...for the Queen to forgive her servant this easily. It seemed like they were childhood friends. Is that why Len was willing to die for her?" Subconsciously, Shikamaru began thinking about his childhood, and all the time he had spent with Chouji.

If he's in danger, even if he's at fault... Would Shikamaru be willing to die for him?

Without hesitation, he thought to himself, yes, I would.

Flow along, glass bottle, and please don't take too long,

Cuz what I want the most is in that message

And on the other side of this sunset

Right there, my wish will disappear

You would always do everything I asked you to

Really any request of mine and yet I still

Was a spoiled selfish brat and I really regret that

I always caused problems for you

"Just like Ino," Shikamaru grinned. Rin and Ino, just an alphabet apart.

You who would grant me every single wish

Are no longer here with me

In this blue sea, will all my feelings

Arrive to where you are

Flow along, little wish, and please don't take too long,

To take away my tears and all my regret,

It was too late by then, to fix my sins,

When they'd taken you far from me

A chill climbed up Shikamaru's back. "Chouji..." he muttered. He'd kill himself before he'd harm Chouji. Chouji had been his friend since he's young, and Shikamaru wouldn't be able to live like normal if he lost Chouji.

Rin had realized her sins too late; but Shikamaru would not do so. He wouldn't commit these sins in the first place.

Silently, he promised himself. I would never harm you, Chouji, nor would I let anyone else do so. I will protect you.

Flow along, glass bottle, and please don't take too long, ("I'm sorry")

Cuz what I want the most is in that message ("I'm sorry")

And on the other side of this sunset ("I'm sorry")

Right there, my wish will disappear ("I'm sorry")

"That's a lot of sorry's."

Flow along, little wish, and please don't take too long, ("God...please...")

To take away my tears and all my regret, ("I beg you...")

"If we're ever reborn, I hope in my next life..."

("It'll be nice if we become twins again.")

("Yeah, it will.")

TBC

"Amazing poem," Shikamaru praised, lifting his head. He had subconsciously leaned so close to the paper his nose was literally inches apart from the words; he never thought of himself as a literature person, but these poems had really hooked him in. The amount of emotions this poem generated even gave him goosebumps. For a moment, Shikamaru thought about thanking Sakura for introducing him to these poems, but then he shook the thought out of his head. He had to maintain his lazy persona.

Just when he was about to start analyzing the poem, he heard heavy knocking on his front door. Someone was at the door. Shikamaru heard the door's opening, his mother's welcoming, then hurried footsteps' sounding louder and louder.

BAM!

His door blasted open, revealing an out of breath, pink-haired girl.

"So! Did you find anything?" Sakura asked, breathing heavily.

"..." Shikamaru could feel a headache forming. "Not yet."

"No?! I haven't either. Maybe the hidden messages haven't shown up yet. I'll visit in a few more days. Good luck!" And she left, as sudden as she had arrived.

"...Troublesome..." Shikamaru sighed.

Five minutes later, his door was blast open again by Ino who was yelling at him to get ready for their first mission. Shikamaru shook his head miserably, praying this wouldn't be the kind of life he has to live until these troublesome girls get married.

(1) Shadow Clone of Sasuke: By transforming I mean the physical transformation from Harry Potter. Because it's not a henge (illusion), it's impossible to be detected.

AN: Teehee, Rita Sukita = Rita Skeeter, the biased reporter from Harry Potter. Had anyone caught onto that?