----It had been a long day, and Shikamaru thought he needed some kind of reward for even doing work today.

"It's all so troublesome…"

Shikamaru heard a noise behind him, and he turned around.

"Chouji, I know you're hiding there."

Chouji stepped out from behind a wall, and took out a letter.

"The Hokage said I was supposed to give this to you," Chouji said, handing it to Shikamaru,

Shikamaru opened up the letter and read it quickly. After he was done, his jaw dropped. He reread it.

"What the heck? I'm invited to the Icha Icha Paradise convention?"

Kakashi popped out of nowhere and flipped Shikamaru's letter over.

"Sorry, we ran out of paper in the office."

Kakashi then used a jutsu to disappear.

"Oh, that's better. I have to go on a mission with a bunch of other random ninja," Shikamaru said. "What a pain."

Chouji started to walk away. "Good luck Shikamaru."

"Thanks, bud."

At exactly 3 o' clock that day, Shikamaru arrived at the Hokage's office. Also waiting there were Naruto, Sasuke, Ino, Neji, Lee, Gaara, Temari, and Kiba.

"Boring," groaned Naruto. "When do we get to go on the mission?"

"Why the heck am I here?" pondered Temari. "And how did I get from sand country from here?"

"Hn," said Neji in a tone that would have made Hiei proud.

After everyone had waited for two and a half hours, (And Neji had said 'Hn' 18 times) somebody finally came to greet them…

Me: Whatcha think? Whatcha think?

Shikamaru: Calm dow-

Me: NO! I just had sugar! DONUTS!

Itachi: Scootches away

Me: COME BACK ITACHI! SOMEONE NEEDS A HUG!

Shikamaru: Blah, blah, blah, read and review…